About 32 State Assemblies Have Backed State Police Amendment, Akpabio Says

Senate President Godswill Akpabio says about 32 state Houses of Assembly have approved a constitutional amendment that would allow states to establish their own police forces.

Akpabio gave the figure on Thursday, 12 November, at the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign rally at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State.

He told supporters of President Bola Tinubu that state police would complement the work of the federal police, News About Nigeria reports.

The figure is higher than the 30 approvals the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation reported on 4 November.

At the time, the Senate gave the six assemblies that had yet to respond until 15 November to do so.

Akpabio said an assembly that failed to respond by the deadline would be treated as having withheld its approval.

A constitutional amendment of this kind requires the backing of at least 24 of Nigeria’s 36 state assemblies.

The ministry’s earlier tally was already above that threshold.

Akpabio’s latest figure indicates that support has widened ahead of the Senate’s deadline.

For residents, the practical question is when the amendment process will be completed and when states could begin setting up their own police forces.

Akpabio gave no start date in the rally remarks reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.