Nigeria is facing persistent and complex security threats. Despite the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the current centralized policing system has struggled to maintain law and order effectively. Key challenges such as understaffing, poor remuneration, inadequate equipment, systemic corruption, low morale, and declining public trust continue to weaken the force’s capacity.
A major contributor to Nigeria’s worsening security crisis is the limited authority of state governors over policing within their domains. Although governors are often described as the chief security officers of their states, they lack operational control over police commands, which report directly to the Inspector General of Police, who in turn answers to the President. This over-centralization has delayed rapid responses to security threats, particularly in states experiencing escalating violence.
Advocates for state policing argue that Nigeria’s current police structure is overly bureaucratic and disconnected from local realities. They emphasize that each state faces unique security challenges shaped by its geography, culture, and social dynamics. A locally governed police force, familiar with the community, language, and terrain, would be better positioned to respond swiftly and effectively.
Proponents also highlight that decentralized policing is widely practiced in federal systems such as the United States, India, South Africa, and Switzerland. They argue that officers posted within their own states would develop a stronger understanding of local security dynamics and build trust with residents. Additionally, states may be more willing to invest in the capacity of their police forces if they are assured those officers will not be easily transferred elsewhere.
Despite the growing support for state police, some critics have expressed concerns about potential abuses. Fears include the possibility of political leaders using state police for intimidation, advancing secessionist agendas, or undermining national unity. There are also legitimate questions about whether all states have the financial capacity to sustain their own police forces.
HB 617: The Path to Reform
The proposed constitutional amendments under HB 617 aim to address these concerns while creating a more responsive and locally effective policing system. HB 617, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Establishment of State Police and for Related Matters,” seeks to transfer policing from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby empowering states to establish their own police forces.
Key Provisions of HB 617 Include:
- Creation of State Police Service Commissions with operational autonomy from federal authorities.
- Provision for federal grants to support state-level policing.
- Transfer of “Police” from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List, giving states constitutional backing for independent policing.
- Introduction of a coordination framework to ensure accountability, uniform standards, and collaboration between federal and state police.
- Safeguards against federal interference, with federal intervention allowed only under strictly defined circumstances.
This legislative shift aims to bring policing closer to the people, enhance accountability, and significantly improve response times to local security issues.
Since its introduction by Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu CFR and co-sponsors, HB 617 has passed its second reading and is currently under review by the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the Constitution.
In his lead debate, co-sponsor Rep. Tolani Shagaya emphasized that the bill responds to persistent calls for decentralized, community-focused policing. He stressed that the bill is not just a legal amendment but a necessary step to strengthen Nigeria’s fragile security architecture.
“Nigeria is a vast federation with over 200 million people, 36 states, 774 local government areas, and more than 250 ethnic groups, yet we continue to operate a single, centralized police system that employs fewer than 400,000 officers,” he said. “The current system is overwhelmed and unsustainable.”
A recent Legislative Dialogue on Nigeria’s National Security Architecture, themed “Nigeria’s Peace and Security: The Constitutional Imperatives,” further reinforced the urgent need for security reform. The Dialogue underscored the importance of community-based policing and federal-state coordination, positioning HB 617 as part of the House’s broader security modernization agenda.
The urgency of HB 617 is most visible in states like Benue, which has suffered recurring violence. Following the June 14, 2025, massacre in Yelweta community, Guma Local Government Area, where about 200 lives were lost to armed herdsmen attacks, the limitations of the current centralized system were painfully evident. The federal police structure lacked the local intelligence, swift deployment capacity, and community integration needed to prevent or quickly contain such atrocities.
Under HB 617, state policing would empower local governments to:
- Deploy personnel trained in local intelligence gathering.
- Respond promptly to crises without waiting for federal directives.
- Develop community-based policing structures that foster trust and improve security cooperation.
HB 617 is not simply a political exercise—it is an urgent security intervention. In the face of escalating violence in Benue and across Nigeria, the bill offers a realistic path toward a more efficient, responsive, and locally accountable policing system. It aligns with the House’s national security agenda and reflects best practices from other federal countries.
Ultimately, the passage of HB 617 could help save lives, restore public confidence, and address the unique security challenges of Nigeria’s diverse states.
