By Sunny A. David, Awka
The Anambra State House of Assembly has endorsed the establishment of state police, adopting the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, as passed by the National Assembly.
The lawmakers adopted the bill during Tuesday’s plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze, following its consideration and approval through a voice vote.
Speaking after the exercise, Udeze said the House had fulfilled its constitutional responsibility on the proposed amendment. He subsequently directed the Clerk of the Assembly to transmit the resolution to the National Assembly.
The Speaker explained that the bill seeks to establish a constitutional framework for state police services, subject to the provisions of the Constitution and minimum policing standards to be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.
The proposed framework contains safeguards aimed at ensuring civilian oversight, protecting human rights and maintaining national minimum policing standards.
It also provides for an independent Police Service Commission, cooperation between federal and state governments, criminal information systems and controls on firearms.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Federal Government would be empowered to intervene in exceptional circumstances, including a breakdown of policing in a state, serious incapacity, threats to national security or grave abuses.
Speaking in an interview after plenary, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Mr Ikenna Ofodeme, described the establishment of state police as necessary, arguing that many security challenges originate at the grassroots level.
Ofodeme dismissed concerns that state police could be abused by state authorities, insisting that the arrangement would enable security agencies to respond more swiftly to threats without waiting for directives from the Inspector-General of Police.
According to him, decentralising the policing system would strengthen the fight against insecurity while creating employment opportunities for young people.
He added that the initiative could ease the burden on the military, which is frequently deployed to support the police in tackling internal security challenges.
The Majority Leader also suggested that local vigilante groups could be incorporated into the state policing system after undergoing appropriate training.
He maintained that bringing policing closer to the people would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community participation and ensure faster responses to security threats.
The endorsement by the Anambra Assembly adds to the legislative consideration of the proposed constitutional amendment, which seeks to provide a legal framework for state police as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
