South-East Assemblies Support State Police Bill Amid Concerns of Political Abuse

The Houses of Assembly in the South-East region of Nigeria are supporting a new bill that would allow states to set up their own police forces. Anambra, Enugu, Imo, and Abia have already passed the bill, while Ebonyi is close to doing the same.

This proposed law, which started from the Presidency, was discussed and approved in a series of readings on Tuesday. It aims to enable states to create their own police services while following national standards set by the National Assembly.

During the discussions, Anambra’s Speaker, Somtochukwu Udeze, instructed the Clerk to send the resolution to the National Assembly. The Majority Leader, Ikenna Ofodeme, mentioned that having state police would enhance local security, improve response times to threats, create jobs, and lessen the military’s role in internal security.

Supporters of the bill believe that state police would make security more effective by being closer to the communities they serve. Lawmakers from Enugu argued that decentralizing policing would enhance safety and protect lives and property.

However, some lawmakers raised concerns about potential misuse of state police by political leaders. Harrison Ogara warned that without strong safeguards, state police could be used to intimidate political opponents. He stressed the need for accountability and oversight to ensure that state police serve the public rather than political interests.

The Speaker of Ebonyi, Moses Ije Odunwa, stated that their Assembly is nearing the passage of the State Police Bill. He mentioned that discussions are ongoing and that the bill aims to improve safety in Ebonyi and Nigeria as a whole.

Abia’s Deputy Speaker, Austin Nmeregini, also confirmed that their Assembly is close to passing the bill, which he believes will address specific security issues in the state.