The Nigerian House of Representatives has passed the much-anticipated bill to establish state police, clearing a key legislative hurdle in efforts to overhaul the country's security architecture. The bill, part of a wider constitutional amendment, was read a third time and passed during plenary in the lower chamber.
The vote was conducted by a show of hands, with the Speaker asking those in support of the bill to raise their hands. When the count was taken, 289 lawmakers were recorded as voting in favour of the measure, an overwhelming majority in the chamber.
Only four members voted against the bill. The lopsided result reflected the broad support within the House for decentralising policing in a country that has been grappling with widespread insecurity, including kidnappings and attacks across several states.
The passage was not entirely without friction, as some discontented voices were heard in the chamber during the process. Despite the objections raised by a small number of members, the Speaker confirmed the count and declared the bill duly passed.
With the third reading concluded, the state police bill has cleared the House of Representatives. However, it still has several steps to complete before it can take effect, given its status as a constitutional amendment.
The bill now awaits passage in the Senate, after which it would be transmitted to the 36 state houses of assembly. As a constitutional amendment, it requires the approval of at least two-thirds of those state assemblies before it can advance.
Should it secure that approval, the bill would then be transmitted to the president for assent. Only after the president signs it into law would the creation of state police formally take effect across the country.