Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has praised the National Assembly for passing the State Police Bill, describing the development as a significant step towards addressing the country’s security challenges.
The Punch reported that Alia’s commendation was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, and made available to journalists in Makurdi on Thursday.
The governor said the legislation represents a major milestone in efforts to establish a policing framework that would allow state police formations to operate alongside the existing federal police structure across the country.
According to the governor, “the passage of the bill is a courageous and timely step,” adding that he has always been a strong advocate of state policing as a necessary measure to strengthen the nation’s security architecture and enhance the protection of lives and property.
Alia noted that the approval of the bill by both chambers of the National Assembly reflected lawmakers’ commitment to tackling insecurity nationwide.
The governor said, “The House of Representatives had passed the law a few weeks ago, and the concurrence by the Senate a few days ago has confirmed the genuine intentions of national assembly members to address the problem of insecurity in the country.”
He further stated that state police would be better positioned to collaborate with local communities, allowing for quicker responses to security threats due to their deeper understanding of local cultures, terrain and social dynamics.
The governor also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his visionary leadership and dedication to reforms aimed at improving Nigeria’s security system, an issue that has generated extensive national debate over the years.
Alia assured residents that his administration would continue to prioritise investments in security and support initiatives designed to ensure lasting peace, safety and economic prosperity in Benue State and across Nigeria.
The governor’s remarks came a day after the Senate passed the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police throughout the federation, a move widely regarded as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s long-running debate on decentralising policing powers to combat rising insecurity.
The bill was adopted following a clause-by-clause review during plenary and received the backing of more than two-thirds of senators through a manual voting process.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the passage of the legislation after lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the proposal following the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
If eventually enacted, the amendment would empower state governments to create and manage police services within their territories, while the Nigeria Police Force would continue to handle national security responsibilities such as terrorism, border security and other federal offences.
Before the bill can become law, it must still receive approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly and subsequently be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
