The Senate has clarified that the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, will not be included in the proposed state police system, citing constitutional differences between the FCT and Nigeria’s 36 states.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said on Friday that Abuja does not have the constitutional structures required to establish and operate a state police force.
Adaramodu explained that unlike the states, the FCT has no elected governor or State House of Assembly. Instead, the territory is administered by the Federal Government through the Minister of the FCT, who operates under the direction of the Federal Executive Council.
He said the legislative responsibilities for the FCT are also handled by the National Assembly, further distinguishing its administrative structure from that of the states.
Addressing concerns over the exclusion of Abuja from the proposed state police arrangement, Adaramodu said the decision was based on the constitutional status of the FCT.
“The FCT is under the Federal Government. Since Abuja does not have a governor or a state legislature, adopting the same police system as the states is not feasible,” he said.
The senator added that security responsibilities in the FCT would therefore remain under federal authorities and the existing federal policing structure.
The clarification comes amid ongoing discussions on the proposed establishment of state police as part of efforts to improve security and strengthen policing across the country.
