A fresh boost for Nigeria’s security reform agenda has emerged following the passage of constitutional alterations on the State Police Bill by the Kogi State House of Assembly, a development welcomed by the Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) as an encouraging step towards safer communities.
In a press release dated Wednesday, 28 October 2026, the organisation’s Executive Director, Idris Miliki Abdul, commended the Kogi lawmakers for advancing the legislative process, describing the development as worthy of recognition by well-meaning Nigerians.
The announcement comes amid ongoing national discussions on establishing state police, with the constitutional requirement for approval by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly emerging as a significant milestone in the reform process.
According to CHRCR, the progress offers renewed encouragement for efforts to strengthen security through a system that brings policing closer to the communities it serves. The organisation believes that state police could provide states with additional opportunities to address security challenges and improve local responses to violent extremism.
Abdul stressed that security remains a collective responsibility, noting that a secure environment provides the foundation for a peaceful society. He argued that involving communities more directly in security efforts could help strengthen the prevention and countering of violent extremism (PCVE) at the state level.
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The organisation’s position highlights the potential benefits of community participation in identifying local security threats, improving cooperation and supporting responses that reflect the realities of different communities.
However, CHRCR emphasised that the process must move beyond state-level approvals to achieve its intended results. Abdul called on the National Assembly to conclude all outstanding legislative procedures without further delay, paving the way for the proposed reform to progress towards becoming law.
He also urged the Kogi State Government to establish a review and implementation committee to develop the necessary modalities for putting the policy into practice once it becomes an Act.
The proposed committee, according to the organisation’s recommendation, would help prepare the state for implementation by working out the arrangements needed to translate the legislative development into practical action.
For CHRCR, the passage of the constitutional alterations represents an encouraging development in the broader effort to strengthen security and promote peaceful communities. The organisation’s commendation also places renewed attention on the responsibilities of federal and state authorities in completing the process.
As the debate over state policing continues, the next steps by the National Assembly and the Kogi State Government will be crucial in determining how the proposed reform advances from legislative approval towards implementation.
