The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has unanimously approved the State Police Bill transmitted to it by the National Assembly for concurrence, marking a significant step towards the proposed establishment of state police services in Nigeria.
The bill was approved during plenary on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at the Assembly Complex along Nkaliki Road, Abakaliki, with all 24 members of the House voting in favour after extensive deliberations and consultations with their constituents.
The proposed legislation seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, to provide a constitutional framework for establishing State Police Services across the federation while retaining the Nigeria Police Force at the federal level.
Presiding over the plenary, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa, said the unanimous endorsement reflected the Assembly's commitment to constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria's security architecture, improving access to criminal intelligence and enhancing the protection of lives and property.
Odunwa noted that the establishment of state police had been a longstanding demand among the people of Ebonyi State, adding that the state had formally expressed its support for the initiative during a public hearing organised by the National Assembly as part of the ongoing constitutional review process.
He said the bill's approval was consistent with the aspirations of Ebonyians for a policing system that would be more accessible to communities and better equipped to respond to local security challenges.
"The passage of this bill reflects the wishes of Ebonyians who desire a policing system that is closer to the people and more responsive to local security challenges," the Speaker stated.
Contributing to the debate, the Leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, said the introduction of state police would significantly expand security manpower and improve the effectiveness of crime prevention and control at the grassroots.
Ikoro expressed confidence that decentralising policing would strengthen security operations by enabling law enforcement agencies to respond more promptly to threats and criminal activities within local communities.
Similarly, Hon. Victor Chidi Nwoke, who represents Abakaliki North Constituency; Hon. Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali, representing Afikpo North East Constituency; and the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Nkemka Okoro Onumah, underscored the importance of bringing policing closer to the people.
The lawmakers, in their separate contributions, highlighted the need for a more responsive security arrangement capable of addressing the peculiar security concerns of communities across the state and the country at large.
The unanimous passage of the bill by the Ebonyi Assembly signals the legislature's support for the proposed constitutional amendment and the broader national conversation on restructuring Nigeria's policing system to improve public safety and security.
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