The Nigerian Senate approves the Local Police Bill in a historic step to reform the security system.

Written by: Mohamed Ragab

The Nigerian Senate has approved a bill to create local police forces in the states, in a move that represents a significant shift in the structure of the country's security system and aims to give local governments a greater role in addressing growing security challenges.

This decision comes amid escalating violence, kidnappings, and armed attacks in several Nigerian regions, prompting authorities to seek new mechanisms to enhance security and improve the speed of response to local threats.

New security system 

The bill stipulates the creation of state police forces alongside the federal police, allowing for the implementation of a dual security system that distributes responsibilities between the central government and local authorities.

The project also grants state governors powers related to managing local police forces and appointing their leaders according to specific constitutional and legal controls, while the federal police continue to play a role in matters of national character and national security.

Broad support to address security challenges

The local policing project has the support of a number of officials and security experts who believe that security decentralization will contribute to improving intelligence gathering and enhancing cooperation with local communities.

Supporters believe that establishing state-level police forces will help to quickly intervene in security crises, especially in areas plagued by armed groups, kidnappings, and organized crime.

Nigerian President Bola Tinbo also supports security reforms aimed at improving the performance of security institutions and enhancing their ability to deal with growing challenges.

Concerns about abuse of power

Conversely, the project raised concerns among some politicians and experts who warned of the possibility of local police forces being exploited for political purposes or used in internal conflicts between parties.

Critics have called for the establishment of independent oversight mechanisms and clear legal safeguards to prevent abuse of power by security forces and to ensure respect for citizens' rights and the rule of law.

Experts also called for the establishment of independent oversight bodies to monitor the performance of local police forces and ensure their adherence to professional standards.

Completion of constitutional procedures

Despite the Senate's approval, the bill still needs to complete constitutional procedures, as it must be approved by a sufficient number of state legislative bodies before being sent to the President for final ratification.