The Enugu State House of Assembly has endorsed the establishment of state police, saying the decentralisation of Nigeria’s policing system would strengthen security and improve the protection of lives and property.

This is as the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly also approved the constitutional amendment bill on state police.

The Enugu lawmakers expressed their positions on the proposed constitutional amendment to establish the State Police Service and introduce related changes to the country’s policing structure during plenary held on October 20, 2026

Supporting the proposal, Chima Obieze, representing Ezeagu Constituency, said state police would bring security operations closer to the people and make policing more effective.

According to him, the establishment of State Police would decentralise the country’s policing architecture and enhance the protection of lives and property across the State.

Similarly, Okey Mbah, representing Nkanu East Constituency, said the proposed arrangement could help address persistent security challenges, including violence and attacks attributed to herders in different parts of Enugu State.

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Mbah argued that allowing States to manage their policing systems would improve responses to security threats and strengthen efforts to protect vulnerable communities.

He said State Police would help curtail recurring violence and attacks by herders in various parts of the state.

However, Harrison Ogara, representing Igbo-Eze South Constituency, cautioned that the proposed system could be vulnerable to abuse by political officeholders without adequate safeguards.

Ogara warned that State Police formations could be deployed to intimidate political opponents, stressing the need for effective oversight, accountability and professional standards to protect the institution from political interference.

He also called for transparent accountability mechanisms and sustainable funding arrangements to ensure that state police personnel perform their duties in the public interest.

The lawmaker maintained that strong institutional safeguards would be necessary to prevent the proposed security structure from becoming an instrument of political control.

Uche Ugwu, Speaker of the House, also commented on the proposed changes to the country’s policing institutions, suggesting that the reorganisation could influence the orientation and attitudes of personnel.

The proposed constitutional amendment includes changing the name of the Nigeria Police Force to the Federal Police Service and establishing a State Police Service.