U.S. Congressman Backs Nigeria’s State Police Bill, Says Reform Will Boost Security

A member of the United States House of Representatives, Riley Moore, has commended the Nigerian Senate for approving the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police, describing the move as a major step toward addressing insecurity and protecting vulnerable communities across the country.

Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, expressed his support in a post on X following the Senate’s passage of the bill, which aims to decentralise policing by allowing states to operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.

The U.S. lawmaker, who has consistently raised concerns over attacks on Christians in Nigeria, said the proposed reform aligns with recommendations he has advocated both publicly and privately.

“I’m encouraged to see Nigeria’s Senate approve legislation to establish state-level police forces—a reform I’ve called for publicly and privately since I first started investigating the genocide against Christians in Nigeria,” Moore wrote.

According to him, giving states greater responsibility for security would enhance efforts to combat crime and protect citizens more effectively.

“I can’t stress how critical this law that will empower states to protect their own citizens and reduce dependence on decision-makers in Abuja is to the effort to defend persecuted Christians and address insecurity,” he stated.

Moore also praised President Bola Tinubu for supporting the initiative, noting that the proposal represents a significant reform of Nigeria’s security architecture.

“President Tinubu deserves credit for pushing it forward, but now we need two-thirds of the states to ratify it before it will take effect,” he added.

LEADERSHIP reports that the Senate on Wednesday passed the Constitution Alteration Bill on state policing after more than two-thirds of lawmakers voted in support of the measure during a manual voting exercise.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish a state policing framework that would operate concurrently with the federal police system.

Under the bill, state governors would be empowered to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by their state Houses of Assembly.

The legislation also includes provisions designed to prevent abuse of the system. Among the safeguards is a clause prohibiting the deployment of state police against individuals or groups solely for criticising a state government, except where permitted by law.

Supporters of the proposal argue that decentralised policing will improve intelligence gathering, community engagement and rapid response to local security challenges.

However, the initiative has also generated debate among stakeholders, with some groups expressing concerns that state police could be misused for political purposes if adequate safeguards are not enforced.

Before becoming law, the constitutional amendment must secure approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly and complete other constitutional procedures required for amendments to the Nigerian Constitution.

The senate’s approval marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s long-running debate over police reform and the decentralisation of security responsibilities amid growing calls for more effective responses to insecurity across the country.