ABUJA, Oct 24: A move to decentralise policing in Nigeria has been approved by two-thirds of the country's state assemblies, the last major legislative hurdle for the constitutional change sought by President Bola Tinubu.
The reform would allow the west African country's 36 states to create their own police forces, instead of relying solely on the federal police, which critics say is sclerotic and overstretched.
"State police will soon be a reality in Nigeria, helping reduce ungoverned spaces and improve national security," Tinubu spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Friday.
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But some experts warn that putting states in control of their own forces could embolden the country's powerful governors in a nation where politics is often violent already.
Tinubu has pushed the reform as violence from armed groups roils Africa's most populous country.
He is seeking a second term in January in an election defined by insecurity and the cost of living.
Approved by 24 state houses of assembly, the law "can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to Mr President for assent", Tinubu's chief of staff Femi Gbajabiamila said on X.
Nigeria's police and military have long faced many challenges: across its north, the country is fighting a long-running jihadist insurgency, complicated by inroads made by militants from the Sahel and non-ideological "bandit" gangs.
The centre of the country is the scene of farmer-herder violence, while the southeast is home to a low-level separatist conflict.
Supporters of the reform say it would create nimble police forces that are more easily held accountable and staffed by locals who know the terrain.
But there are also fears governors will deploy state police to intimidate opposition parties, interfere with elections and harass critics.