U.S. Congressman Riley Moore welcomed the passage of Nigeria's State Police Bill, which allows for the creation of state-controlled police forces [1].
The legislation marks a significant shift in Nigeria's security architecture by decentralizing policing powers. This change is intended to address chronic insecurity and provide targeted protection for vulnerable populations, particularly Christians facing persecution in various regions [1, 3].
Reports on the bill's passage emerged on June 12, 2026 [3, 4, 5]. The Constitution Alteration Bill was passed by the National Assembly, comprising both the Senate and the House of Representatives [1, 2, 3].
Moore said the move would help stop the persecution of Christians and improve the overall security situation in the country [1, 3]. The U.S. lawmaker said he applauded President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian legislature for advancing the bill [2, 5].
Under the new framework, individual states will have the authority to establish and manage their own police forces. This is designed to create a more responsive security presence that can address local threats more effectively than a centralized federal force [1, 3].
The bill arrives amid ongoing concerns regarding religious violence and instability across Nigeria. By shifting control to the state level, proponents argue that local authorities will have better intelligence, and a more direct stake in protecting their specific communities [1, 2].
“The legislation marks a significant shift in Nigeria's security architecture by decentralizing policing powers.”
The transition toward state-controlled policing represents a fundamental change in Nigeria's governance. By decentralizing security, the government aims to reduce response times and increase accountability at the local level. However, the success of this initiative depends on whether state governments can maintain professional standards and prevent the new forces from being used for political leverage.
