Kano State Assembly Approves Bill for State Police

On October 28, the Kano State House of Assembly passed a bill aimed at amending the 1999 Constitution to facilitate the establishment of state police. This decision was made during a plenary session led by Speaker Isma'il Falgore.

The bill received consideration from the Committee of the Whole and was approved at the third reading. With Kano's approval, a total of 33 state legislatures have now passed the bill, leaving only three states yet to endorse the proposed constitutional amendment.

This initiative is part of broader efforts to restructure Nigeria's security architecture, enabling state governments to create their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force. The 33 states that have passed the bill include notable regions such as Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers.

The proposed state police services would operate with defined powers and responsibilities as outlined in the amended Constitution. Advocates argue that this decentralization could enhance intelligence gathering and community policing, although concerns regarding funding and accountability remain.