Senate President Godswill Akpabio has issued a formal warning to Nigerian state governors, urging them to exercise caution and avoid potential abuse of power once state police forces are officially inaugurated. This statement was made during Tuesday’s plenary session as the National Assembly nears a critical vote on the legislation.
This development follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent submission of a Constitution Alteration Bill designed to facilitate the creation of state-level law enforcement to combat national security threats. The Senate has scheduled the bill for passage on Wednesday. Akpabio emphasized that these measures are intended to outlast current administrations, noting that former governors must not become targets of the institutions they helped establish. He stressed that Nigeria is taking a historic step in decentralizing the police force, a feat that has remained unaddressed since 1960. To prevent future misconduct, the legislative process will involve both a constitutional amendment and an accompanying Act of Parliament to define clear operational rules.
