Abia State Government Confirms Passage of State Police Bill

The Abia State Government has responded to claims that the State Police Bill has not been approved. They assert that the House of Assembly has indeed passed the bill.

Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, issued a statement on Thursday, calling the reports inaccurate and misleading. He emphasized that the legislation is part of efforts to enhance community policing and improve security in the state.

The government believes this move shows Abia’s commitment to adopting state policing, aligning with initiatives from President Bola Tinubu’s administration. They have urged residents and media outlets to rely on verified information from official sources.

Furthermore, the state government reiterated its dedication to collaborating with the Federal Government and other states to implement state police. They also called on journalists to ensure they verify information before publishing.

This clarification comes as the proposed state police framework is moving through the constitutional amendment process. The National Assembly has already passed the bill and sent it to state legislatures for approval. A total of 24 out of 36 State Houses of Assembly need to endorse it for it to be fully approved.

As of Wednesday, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele reported that 30 state assemblies had approved the bill, while the remaining six have until November 15 to respond.