Nigeria has moved closer to establishing state-controlled police forces after the House of Representatives passed a bill supporting the decentralisation of the country’s policing system.
The bill received overwhelming backing during Thursday’s plenary session in Abuja, where 289 out of 290 lawmakers present voted in favour. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas did not vote.
Lawmakers said the proposal is aimed at addressing rising insecurity, including killings, kidnappings, and banditry across parts of the country.
However, the session was marked by disagreement over the process. A lawmaker from Kaduna State, Bashir Zubairu, raised concerns that members had only just received the committee report on the bill earlier in the day and had not had enough time to review it.
He argued that lawmakers could not properly debate or decide on a document they had not studied in detail. His objection was, however, dismissed by the Speaker, allowing proceedings to continue.
As the Speaker guided members through the clauses of the bill, some lawmakers attempted to raise further objections, but these were not entertained.
Before voting began, Abbas also announced that the electronic voting system was not working, so lawmakers would vote based on physical presence and a count system.
At the end of the process, 289 lawmakers supported the bill, while only one voted against it, clearing the way for further legislative steps toward the creation of state police in Nigeria.
