A member of the United States House of Representatives, Riley Moore, has welcomed the Nigerian Senate’s passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police, describing the development as a major step toward improving security and protecting vulnerable communities across the country.
Moore, who represents West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. Congress, expressed his support for the proposed reform in a post shared on his X account on Wednesday, shortly after the Senate approved the bill aimed at decentralising policing in Nigeria.
The legislation seeks to create a framework that would allow individual states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the existing national police structure, the Nigeria Police Force.
The proposal represents one of the most significant security reforms debated in Nigeria in recent years and has generated widespread discussion among policymakers, security experts, civil society groups and citizens.
Reacting to the Senate’s decision, Moore said the move aligned with recommendations he had previously advanced both publicly and privately regarding the need to strengthen local security structures in Nigeria.
According to the American lawmaker, state-controlled police agencies could improve the ability of local authorities to respond swiftly to security threats and better protect residents in communities facing persistent violence and insecurity.
Moore particularly highlighted the plight of Christians in parts of Nigeria, a subject on which he has frequently commented during his time in Congress.
He argued that empowering states with greater control over law enforcement could help address security challenges affecting religious communities and other vulnerable populations.
The congressman has on several occasions called for increased international attention to attacks and violence affecting communities in various parts of Nigeria, especially in regions experiencing recurring clashes, insurgency, banditry and communal conflicts.
His latest remarks add an international dimension to Nigeria’s ongoing debate over police reform and internal security management.
The Senate’s approval of the Constitution Alteration Bill marks a major milestone in the effort to restructure policing in Africa’s most populous nation.
For decades, Nigeria has operated a centralized policing system under which law enforcement powers are vested primarily in the federal government through the Nigeria Police Force.
Supporters of state policing have long argued that the current structure is overstretched and unable to adequately respond to the diverse security challenges confronting different parts of the country.
They contend that governors, who are constitutionally designated as chief security officers of their states, often lack direct operational control over police personnel responsible for maintaining law and order within their jurisdictions.
Advocates believe that creating state police services would bring law enforcement closer to local communities, improve intelligence gathering and enable quicker responses to emerging threats.
Many security analysts also argue that officers recruited locally are more likely to understand the language, culture and terrain of the areas they serve, thereby enhancing effectiveness in crime prevention and investigation.
However, the proposal has also attracted criticism and caution from some stakeholders.
Opponents have expressed concerns that state police could be vulnerable to political interference, abuse by state governments or misuse during elections and political disputes.
Others have called for strong constitutional safeguards, accountability mechanisms and independent oversight structures to prevent potential abuses of power.
Despite these concerns, momentum for police decentralisation has continued to grow amid worsening security challenges across several regions of the country.
The Senate’s endorsement of the constitutional amendment is being viewed by many observers as a reflection of increasing recognition that alternative approaches may be necessary to address complex security threats.
Moore’s support for the reform underscores the growing international interest in Nigeria’s security landscape.
As a member of the U.S. Congress, his comments are likely to resonate among policymakers and advocacy groups that monitor developments related to human rights, religious freedom and security in Africa.
Political analysts note that while the establishment of state police remains subject to further legislative and constitutional processes, the Senate’s action has significantly advanced a debate that has persisted for years.
The proposed amendment will require additional approvals before it can become part of the Constitution, including consideration by other relevant legislative bodies and endorsement through the constitutional amendment process.
Nevertheless, supporters of the initiative see the Senate’s decision as a historic step toward restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture.
For Moore and other proponents of decentralised policing, the reform represents an opportunity to strengthen local governance, improve public safety and provide more effective protection for communities facing insecurity.
As discussions continue across the country, the state police proposal is expected to remain one of the most closely watched constitutional reforms, with far-reaching implications for law enforcement, federalism and national security in Nigeria.
