The Cross River State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the establishment of state police in Nigeria, with 22 lawmakers voting in favour of a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at bringing policing closer to the people.
The decision was reached during plenary on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, when the lawmakers passed the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeking to establish a constitutional framework for State Police Services alongside the existing federal policing structure.
Three lawmakers were absent during the sitting.
The passage represents an important step in the ongoing national debate over whether states should have the power to establish and operate their own police services to tackle insecurity more effectively.
Leading the debate, the Leader of the House and member representing Odukpani State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo, argued that bringing policing closer to the people could improve security responses and help address threats peculiar to different communities.
Similarly, the member representing Yala I State Constituency, Hon. Brian Odey, stressed the need for effective coordination between state and federal security agencies to ensure that the proposed arrangement strengthens, rather than weakens, the country's security system.
The Deputy Leader of the House and member representing Abi State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Davies Eta, also called for adequate safeguards, accountability and professionalism, warning through his position on the proposed framework that state police must respect the law and the fundamental rights of citizens.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, said the Assembly's decision demonstrated its support for constitutional reforms designed to improve security and protect lives and property.
However, the passage of the bill by the Cross River Assembly does not mean that a Cross River State Police Command can immediately begin operations under the proposed constitutional framework.
The bill is part of a wider constitutional amendment process that requires approval by at least two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 state Houses of Assembly, representing 24 states, before the amendment can proceed to the next stage.
For Cross River residents, the development raises important questions about how state police could help address security challenges affecting communities across the state, including kidnapping, communal conflicts, criminal activities and other threats to public safety.
In rural communities where residents sometimes complain about slow security responses and the difficulty of accessing security agencies, supporters believe that a properly organised state police service could improve intelligence gathering and enable security personnel to respond more quickly to emerging threats.
But the idea also comes with serious responsibilities.
The success of state police will depend not only on the passage of legislation but also on the quality of recruitment, training, funding, operational independence and accountability.
There are concerns that governors and powerful politicians could misuse state-controlled police against political opponents, critics and vulnerable communities if strong safeguards are not established.
For this reason, Cross River and other states must ensure that the proposed system is built around public safety, professionalism and respect for human rights rather than political interests.
The major question is no longer simply whether state police should be established, but whether the proposed system can deliver genuine security without becoming another instrument of political control.
For Cross River State, the real test will be whether this legislative support eventually translates into safer communities, faster responses to criminal activities and greater confidence in the security system.
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