Senate President Godswill Akpabio has warned Nigerian governors not to misuse state police once the government approves its creation.

The National Assembly is currently working on setting up state police to help improve security across the country. Akpabio gave this warning during a plenary session, stressing that governors must be held accountable.

He said both current and future governors should not be afraid of the security force they help create.

President Bola Tinubu has already proposed a Constitution Amendment Bill to make state police a reality. The Senate is expected to pass the bill soon.

Akpabio noted that this move is a major step — it will be the first time Nigeria is decentralizing the police force since independence in 1960. To avoid abuse, the process will be carried out in two phases.