FG: No Separate Police Force For FCT Under State Police Bill

According to Ireporter Online, the Federal Government has clarified that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will not operate a separate police force under the proposed State Police Bill recently passed by the National Assembly.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued by the State House, which explained that the FCT will remain under the jurisdiction of the Nigeria Police Force, even as the force is expected to be renamed the Federal Police Service once the bill is fully approved.

The government further stated that while the FCT will not have its own state police structure, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory will be empowered to provide logistical support to the federal policing system under the new arrangement.

“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.

Naija News reports that both chambers of the National Assembly have already passed the State Police Bill as part of ongoing reforms aimed at restructuring the country’s policing system and addressing rising insecurity.

However, the legislation will only take effect after it is ratified by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly across the federation.

The proposed law also mandates each of the 36 states to establish its own State Police Service, which will be under the supervision of the respective state governors, alongside a 24-month transition period for full implementation.