State Police Gets Senate Green Light, Arise Hails Tinubu

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ayodele Arise, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for championing the establishment of State Police and praised both chambers of the National Assembly for the swift passage of the bill.

The Senate on Wednesday joined the House of Representatives in passing the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026.
If approved by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly, the legislation will end the Federal Government’s exclusive control of policing by empowering states to establish and fund their own police services, recruit personnel, and tackle local security challenges while adhering to national standards set by the National Assembly.
The bill also seeks to replace the existing Nigeria Police Force with a Federal Police Service and establish a dual policing system in which both federal and state police institutions operate simultaneously.
Reacting to the development during a chat with journalists, Senator Arise, who represented Ekiti North in the National Assembly between 2007 and 2011, described State Police as a necessary step toward addressing Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
According to him, while security threats may never be completely eradicated, State Police would significantly improve efforts to combat insecurity.
He said, “Having state police is a much-needed solution to reduce the security threat that we are facing in the country. There is no way security challenges will be eliminated completely, but kudos to Mr. President for being proactive on this subject as we continue to face the challenges of insecurity.
“The President has been at the forefront of ensuring that solutions are provided to address these challenges and almost completely eliminate the activities of criminal elements, especially in relation to kidnapping. The Federal Police often face difficulties responding quickly when deployed to unfamiliar terrains.
“A local police system made up of people from the area already understands the community, knows the residents, and is familiar with the terrain. It is therefore a welcome development and one that I believe will go a long way toward solving the security challenges we have faced for years.”
Addressing concerns that governors could abuse control over state police formations, Senator Arise expressed confidence that the National Assembly would create constitutional safeguards to prevent such excesses.
Checks indicate that under the proposed legislation, a governor’s appointment of a State Commissioner of Police would be subject to recommendations from the National Police Council, while removal from office would require approval by the State House of Assembly.
The former lawmaker also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and demand constitutional mechanisms capable of limiting potential abuses by state governors.
He said, “Many of the objections are legitimate concerns, but most successful federal systems around the world, such as the United States and Canada, have operated multi-layered policing structures for decades.
“These countries have state, community, county, campus, and federal policing systems operating side by side. While there are concerns because Nigeria is only now embracing this model, the Federal Government has also had opportunities over the years to either use centralized policing for the good of the people or otherwise.
“The fear that governors may abuse the system exists, but it is our responsibility to put checks and balances in place to prevent any leader from using the police against the people.
“In appointing a State Commissioner of Police, the process should not rest solely with the governor. There should be legislative input. While many governors currently wield influence over state legislatures, this situation will not remain permanent as democracy continues to mature.
“One option is to establish a State Police Commission that recommends two or three candidates to the governor, who then selects one for ratification by the State Assembly.
“Similarly, if a governor seeks to remove a State Commissioner of Police, the matter should return to the State Assembly, with clear reasons and evidence of misconduct presented before any action is taken.”