The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has announced the formation of a comprehensive constitution review committee, consisting of over 45 members, tasked with reviewing the 1999 constitution.
This committee, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, will include six lawmakers from each geopolitical zone and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The primary focus of the committee is the review of laws related to artificial intelligence, state police, and other pertinent matters.
The inauguration of the committee is scheduled for next week Tuesday.
The urgency for constitutional review, especially in the context of state police, stems from the escalating security challenges in Nigeria, marked by incidents of kidnapping and banditry.
Governors affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reiterated their advocacy for state policing, emphasizing it as a critical solution to the country’s deteriorating security situation.
Concerns were raised about Nigeria’s trajectory, with some likening it to the challenges faced by Venezuela.
Various regional socio-political groups, including Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Middle Belt Forum, and the Northern Elders’ Forum, have consistently echoed the call for state police as a viable remedy to the escalating security threats facing the nation.
Notably, states in the South-West have established Amotekun, while their counterparts in the South-East have introduced the state-owned security outfit Ebube Agu.
However, the effectiveness of these initiatives has been hindered by the lack of support from the Federal Government.