Northern Youth Assembly hails National Assembly’s passage of state police bill
Kola Oyelere Kano
The Northern Youth Assembly (NYA) has commended the National Assembly for what it described as a historic step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security framework following the passage of the constitutional amendment bill that paves the way for the establishment of state police across the country.
According to the NYA, the endorsement of the bill by 289 lawmakers, with only four opposing it, demonstrates growing recognition that Nigeria’s complex security challenges require innovative and locally driven solutions.
The group noted that the creation of state police represents one of the most significant security reforms since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, arguing that communities, particularly in Northern Nigeria, have long suffered from insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, cattle rustling and communal conflicts.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Abdulhafiz Garba, the youth group described the overwhelming approval of the bill by lawmakers as a reflection of national consensus on the need for a more decentralized and community-oriented policing system.
“The current centralized policing framework has struggled under the weight of Nigeria’s vast geographical size, growing population and diverse security challenges,” the statement said, adding that state police would complement existing federal security structures by bringing law enforcement closer to local communities.
Highlighting the anticipated benefits of the reform, the NYA said state police would improve intelligence gathering through the recruitment of personnel familiar with local languages, cultures and terrains, thereby enhancing the ability to identify and prevent criminal activities.
The organization also expressed confidence that emergency response times would improve significantly, as state-controlled police formations would be able to respond swiftly to security threats without waiting for directives from distant command structures.
In addition, the group said the initiative would create employment opportunities for thousands of youths across the North through recruitment into state police services, helping to address unemployment while enhancing community safety.
The assembly further argued that improved security would attract investment, boost agricultural production, revive rural economies and facilitate safer movement of people and goods across the region.
To support its position, the NYA cited examples from countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany, where decentralized policing systems operate alongside federal law enforcement agencies.
According to the group, these models have demonstrated that state-based policing can strengthen governance, improve accountability and enhance security outcomes without undermining national unity.
Describing the passage of the bill as more than a legislative victory, the assembly said it marks a significant step toward building a safer and more secure Nigeria.
“The Northern Youth Assembly stands firmly in support of this historic security reform and remains committed to advocating policies that promote peace, security, development and national unity,” the statement added.
