A United States congressman has commended President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s House of Representatives for advancing legislation that would allow states to create their own police forces.
Riley Moore, a Republican US House member who has previously raised concerns about insecurity and religious persecution in Nigeria, described Thursday’s House vote as a long-awaited breakthrough.
The bill, which seeks to amend Nigeria’s constitution to establish state-controlled police systems alongside the existing federal force, passed with 289 votes in favour. Only one lawmaker voted against it, while another abstained.
In a post on his X account, Moore said he had personally urged Nigerian officials to embrace state policing during multiple meetings — including a conversation with Nigeria’s First Lady during her visit to Washington.
“I raised this idea directly with Nigeria’s First Lady and have done so repeatedly with every Nigerian delegation I’ve met with,” Moore wrote.
The lawmaker specifically praised President Tinubu for throwing his weight behind the proposal. “President Tinubu deserves credit for supporting this legislation and urging its passage through Nigeria’s parliament,” Moore added.
He called state police “a critical step toward ending the persecution of Christians and the overall instability in Nigeria.”
However, Moore noted that the reform effort still faces significant hurdles. “There’s still a way to go before state-level police forces will be in place,” he said, adding that the outcome so far shows “all our hard work is paying off.”
The bill now moves to the Senate, where it has already passed second reading. To become law, it will need Senate approval, ratification by at least 24 state houses of assembly, and finally, presidential assent — which Tinubu has signalled support for.
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