Senate Will Pass State Police Bill Within Two Weeks — Izunaso

Published By Eloyi Matthew On Jun 14, 2026

Senate Will Pass State Police Bill Within Two Weeks — Izunaso

By Matthew Eloyi

Senator Osita Izunaso, representing Imo West Senatorial District, has said the Senate will pass the proposed state police bill within the next two weeks, describing it as a critical step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

Speaking at the maiden Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference (NPSC) and Defence Exhibition 2026 in Abuja on Saturday, the senator said the National Assembly was committed to evolving security governance to address the country’s growing security challenges.

According to him, the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, while the Senate is fine-tuning the legislation to close any identified gaps before its final passage.

“I can assure you that the Senate will also follow suit and pass it. In the next two weeks, we are going to pass that bill because we all believe in it,” he said.

Izunaso, who addressed an audience of policymakers, military officers, security experts, diplomats and scholars, stressed that security should not be left to the armed forces and security agencies alone, urging citizens to actively participate in protecting their communities.

He noted that with Nigeria’s population estimated at about 250 million people, the combined strength of the armed forces and paramilitary agencies was insufficient to effectively safeguard the entire country.

“The basic security we require is the Nigerian populace themselves. We have to bring to the attention of the authorities whatever looks suspicious immediately. Everybody in this country should participate in the call for security,” he said.

The lawmaker encouraged Nigerians to report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies and reminded citizens that the law permits civilians to arrest suspects under certain circumstances before handing them over to the appropriate authorities.

He, however, stressed the need for greater public awareness of citizens’ rights and responsibilities in maintaining security.

Izunaso said Nigeria’s security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, cybercrime, oil theft and organised crime, require comprehensive solutions beyond military action.

While commending the sacrifices of the armed forces and security agencies, he argued that sustainable security depends on strong institutions, effective laws, adequate funding, intelligence-driven operations, citizen participation and responsive governance.

“It is increasingly clear that military solutions alone cannot solve all security challenges,” he stated.

The senator also highlighted the constitutional responsibilities of the legislature in strengthening national security through lawmaking, representation, appropriation and oversight.

He said lawmakers serve as accessible channels for citizens to report security concerns and contribute ideas that could improve governance and public safety.

Izunaso also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as his proactive handling of security matters, saying the President responds swiftly to security emergencies and has consistently reorganised the country’s security architecture when necessary.

“Security matters are not things we discuss in public. There are things done behind the curtains, but we must commend Mr President for being proactive, extremely proactive,” he said.

He further lauded the organisers of the conference for creating a platform to examine the nation’s security challenges, describing security as the bedrock of sustainable development and national prosperity.

According to him, no nation can achieve meaningful economic growth where citizens live in fear and resources are continually diverted to tackle avoidable security threats.

The senator expressed hope that the conference, which organisers said would become an annual event, would generate ideas capable of strengthening Nigeria’s security framework and promoting greater collaboration between government and citizens.

Earlier, the convener of the event, Dr Charles Awuzie, said the event was conceived to create a platform where Nigerians could openly discuss security, defence capacity, investment, local manufacturing, intelligence support, community safety and public-private collaboration.

In his closing remarks, , co-convener and security studies expert, Dr Mohammed Sani Abubakar, said the gathering had successfully created a “platform for synergy” among private security firms, consultancy groups, government representatives, and non-state actors to align strategies on national security challenges.