No Separate Police For FCT Under State Police Bill – FG

The federal government has clarified that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will not have a separate police force under the State Police Bill recently passed by the National Assembly.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued by the State House.

According to the government, the FCT will remain under the jurisdiction of the Nigeria Police Force, which will be renamed the Federal Police Service once the bill receives the required approvals.

The government, however, said the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory would be empowered to provide logistical support to the federal police under the proposed law.

“The Federal Capital Territory falls under the territorial jurisdiction of the Federal Police; the FCT is not given a State Police of its own. The minister will only have power to provide logistical support when the bill is eventually passed into law,” the statement read, according to Peoples Gazette.

Naija News recalls that both chambers of the National Assembly have separately passed the State Police Bill as part of efforts to reform the country’s policing architecture and address worsening insecurity.

However, the bill will only become law after it is ratified by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly.

Under the proposed legislation, each of the 36 states is required to establish its own State Police Service, which will be supervised by the state governor.

The bill also provides for a 24-month transition period for the establishment and operationalisation of the state police services across the federation.