US Lawmaker Riley Moore Reacts to Reps’ Passage of State Police Bill
A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has praised the passage of the state police bill by Nigeria’s House of Representatives, describing it as a significant move toward tackling insecurity and addressing alleged persecution of Christians in the country.
The House of Representatives passed the bill on Thursday during plenary, paving the way for Nigeria’s 36 states to establish and operate their own police forces alongside the Federal Nigeria Police Force.
The legislation was approved by 289 lawmakers, while one voted against it and another abstained.
The bill, which has also passed second reading in the Senate, still requires approval by the Senate, ratification by at least 24 state assemblies, and presidential assent before it can become law.
Reacting to the development in a statement posted on his X handle, Moore said he was pleased with the progress, noting that it aligned with proposals he had previously advocated.
“I’m thankful to see that Nigeria’s House of Representatives passed this important policy that I’ve been calling for since @POTUS first asked me to investigate the genocide against Christians in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that he had consistently raised the idea in meetings with Nigerian officials, including discussions with the First Lady during her visit to Washington.
“In fact, I raised this idea directly with Nigeria’s First Lady during her visit to Washington and have done so repeatedly with every Nigerian delegation I’ve met with,” he added.
Moore stressed that empowering subnational governments to handle security would improve protection for citizens.
“Ensuring states can protect their own citizens is a critical step toward ending the persecution of Christians and the overall instability in Nigeria,” he said.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the bill, stating that the President had played a role in pushing the reform through parliament.
“President Tinubu deserves credit for supporting this legislation and urging its passage through Nigeria’s parliament,” he said.
However, Moore noted that the reform process was still ongoing and not yet final.
“There’s still a ways to go before state-level police forces will be in place, but this is a sign that all our hard work is paying off,” he said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
