Prominent Nigerian technocrat and corporate leader Dr. Ernest Ndukwe has welcomed the Nigerian Senate’s passage of the constitutional amendment bill to establish state police, describing the move as a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
Ndukwe, Chairman of MTN Nigeria and former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said the Senate’s approval, following the House of Representatives’ earlier passage of the legislation, demonstrates the National Assembly’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
In a statement, Ndukwe commended the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly for advancing the legislation, which has been the subject of national debate for years.
“The passage of the bill reflects the resolve of lawmakers to act in the national interest and respond to growing calls for a more decentralized policing system,” he said.
A longstanding advocate of state policing, Ndukwe argued that devolving policing powers to Nigeria’s 36 states could improve security by enabling faster responses to local threats and strengthening community-based law enforcement.
He expressed optimism that the constitutional amendment would receive the approval of at least 24 state Houses of Assembly, the threshold required under Nigeria’s Constitution before it can be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for presidential assent.
Ndukwe also said the version of the bill passed by the Senate contains safeguards designed to reduce the risk of political interference or abuse by state authorities, concerns that have historically fueled opposition to state police.
He urged Nigerians to support the constitutional amendment process, expressing confidence that President Tinubu, who has publicly backed the creation of state police, would sign the legislation once it completes the constitutional approval process.
The Senate’s passage of the bill marks a major step in one of Nigeria’s most significant constitutional reforms in recent years. If ultimately enacted, the amendment would fundamentally reshape the country’s centralized policing system by allowing states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the federal police.
The proposal has attracted broad support from many security experts, business leaders and state governments, who argue that improved security is critical to economic growth, investment, and business confidence. However, some legal and civil society groups continue to advocate strong institutional safeguards to ensure accountability and prevent the misuse of state-controlled police forces.
The bill now moves to Nigeria’s 36 state legislatures, where approval by at least two-thirds of the assemblies is required before it can become law.
