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Senate to debate State Police bill this week
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The Senate has intensified efforts to establish state police, declaring that the constitutional amendment required to decentralise policing across the country will be prioritised this week.
Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, said the National Assembly had resolved to fast-track the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution, describing the creation of state police as a necessary response to the nation’s worsening security challenges.
Bamidele, who disclosed this in an interview in Abuja on Monday, said the proposal enjoyed broad support from President Bola Tinubu, state governors and other stakeholders, adding that there was now a national consensus on the need to establish state police.
The renewed push comes amid growing concerns over terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence across the country, with recent attacks, including the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State and attacks on military men across the regions, further strengthening calls for a decentralised policing system.
Currently, Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution provides for a single national police force.
It states that, “There shall be a Police Force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force.”
However, Bamidele said there was now a broad consensus among stakeholders that the time had come to establish state police.
He said, “Our position is very clear on state police. We are standing with Nigerians on the issue of state police. All strata of the federation have made it clear that there cannot be a better time to establish a state police than now.
“That is where we stand. Where we come in now is to help translate this popular desire of the people into reality as elected representatives of the Nigerian people.
“We concluded that we are going to pass the constitutional amendment in this respect to make a provision for the state police. If I can tell you as of today, that will come to fruition this very week because there is no need to allow any further delay.”
According to him, consultations involving the National Assembly, the Presidency and security agencies had advanced significantly, paving the way for legislative action.
“There have been a series of meetings between the National Assembly. When I say the National Assembly, I mean Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Barau Jibrin and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, both of whom are representing the National Assembly.
“They had been in a series of meetings with the office of the Attorney-General, Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tunji Disu and other stakeholders in the last week, and that is why I can sit here to tell you that we’re pursuing that this week.
“It is going to be the subject we will be dealing with this week. What we have resolved to do is to isolate it with the rest of the bills that we have proposed under constitutional amendment so that we can vote on this as soon as possible,” he said.
Bamidele explained that the state police proposal would be treated separately from other constitutional amendment bills to fast-track its passage and transmission to the states for ratification.
“The bill can as well be on its way to the 36 state Houses of Assembly as soon as possible because you know we will need two-thirds of the state houses of assembly to approve it before the President can assent to it.
“The President is also with us on this proposal. I am sure he cannot wait for the bill to come to him for assent.
“I am sure the majority of our governors, as we know, are in support of this bill. The state houses of assembly are also waiting for this bill to come. We will initiate the proposal for the creation of state police within the week.”
Under the constitutional amendment process, any alteration to the Constitution must be approved by at least two-thirds of the National Assembly and ratified by no fewer than 24 state Houses of Assembly before it can be signed into law by the President.
The renewed push for state police follows years of debate over the decentralisation of policing powers, with supporters arguing that governors and local authorities are better positioned to tackle security threats within their jurisdictions.
Opponents, however, have raised concerns about possible abuse of such police formations by state governments.
Earlier, Gbajabiamila disclosed that Tinubu would soon receive a comprehensive report on the proposed creation of state police as consultations on the constitutional framework for its establishment neared completion.
Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has dismissed claims that the Mexican government rejected his diplomatic appointment, attributing his delayed resumption instead to the ongoing FIFA World Cup being co-hosted by Mexico and the United States.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today last Monday, the former presidential aide said the delay was due to logistical and diplomatic considerations linked to the global football tournament, stressing that he was not the only Nigerian envoy yet to assume duty. Omokri said reports suggesting that Mexico had declined to accept him as Nigeria’s ambassador were false and were being promoted by political opponents.
“Mexico has not rejected me. Not at all,” he said.Politics He explained that the Mexican government is currently focused on hosting the World Cup alongside the United States, leaving little room to process the arrival of new diplomats. “You should understand that Mexico is right now hosting the World Cup, along with the United States of America, and all of their focus is on that,” Omokri stated.
According to him, several Nigerian ambassadors-designate are also yet to resume at their respective postings for similar reasons.Executive Branch “Most of us ambassadors have not resumed. So, I’m not the only one. A lot of my colleagues are in my situation, but it’s okay. These things happen,” he said. The ambassador-designate also accused members of the opposition of spreading misleading narratives about his appointment, insisting that such claims have no basis in reality. “The opposition will always say things like I have been rejected. We do not work on the basis of the opposition. We work on the basis of reality,” he said.
Omokri expressed confidence that Nigeria continues to enjoy cordial diplomatic relations with countries around the world and maintained that host nations would receive Nigerian envoys in due course. “The reality of it is that we have countries in the world that respect Nigeria, and they’re going to be taking Nigeria’s envoys,” he added.
A young Nigerian girl who was trafficked to Cotonou, Benin Republice for prostitution has d!ed.
Sewuese passed away on Friday, July 24, 2026 in Benue State after she was brought home.
Activist, Zege Orkwande, who has been facilitating the rescue of trafficked Benue girls said investigation is ongoing and those who trafficked her will face the full wrath of law.
“People are asking “who took Sewuese to Cotonou”. Trust my process,” he wrote.
“The people that trafficked/smuggled her to Cotonou for prostitution will sure face the law and serve in prison uniform.
“All information gathered. I’m waiting for her to be buried first. REST WELL.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has launched a probe into the alleged withholding of operational funds approved by President Bola Tinubu for six federal information agencies by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
The investigation follows reports by Premium Times alleging that the Permanent Secretary failed to process payment files for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Voice of Nigeria (VON), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), National Orientation Agency (NOA), and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), despite presidential approval. The delay reportedly affected the operations of the agencies, with sources alleging that Mrs. Ukaire insisted that agency heads make detailed presentations on their projects and financial utilisation before the payments could be processed.
Agency heads and civil service experts reportedly argued that the demand contravened established procedures.
They cited a circular from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), which directs supervising ministries not to interfere in the financial administration of parastatals, noting that the agencies are accountable to their governing boards and supervising ministers rather than the Permanent Secretary for routine operational releases.
In response to the allegations, the ICPC invited Mrs. Ukaire and the heads of the affected agencies for questioning to determine the circumstances surrounding the delayed funds. Although those invited were questioned, no one was detained, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Following the report and the ICPC’s intervention, Mrs. Ukaire reportedly approved the payment files and forwarded them for disbursement. Heads of the affected agencies confirmed that the documents have now been transmitted and are awaiting final release into their respective accounts, bringing relief after months of uncertainty.
Source: Rewritten from a report by Premium Times without altering the original facts.
Ambassador Omokri Amid Rejection Rumours Says World Cup Cause of his delayed resumption
Sad: Young Nigerian reportedly trafficked for commercial s*x dies after rescue
ICPC investigates Permanent Secretary over delayed Tinubu’s approved agency funds
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