Why FCT Is Left Out of State Police Plan – Here’s What the Senate Says
By: Abudu Olalekan
The Senate just clarified something that’s been bugging a lot of people: why isn’t the Federal Capital Territory getting its own state police?
Turns out, it’s pretty straightforward. The FCT doesn’t have a governor. It doesn’t have a State House of Assembly either. That’s the core issue right there.
“Look, the FCT is different,” explained Yemi Adaramodu, the Senate’s media chief, during a chat on Friday. “It’s run directly by the Federal Government. A minister heads it—not a governor.”
Here’s how it actually works. The FCT operates under the Federal Executive Council. All directives, all administrative decisions flow through there. And when it comes to making laws? That’s the National Assembly’s job, not some state assembly. So basically, the FCT isn’t structured like the 36 states. It can’t be.
“The federal police handle policing there,” Adaramodu added. “That’s just how it has to work.”
All of this matters because Nigeria’s trying to overhaul its entire policing system. President Tinubu was supposed to get the draft National Policing Bill by early September. The goal? Decentralize policing, give states more control through state police forces.
The idea has momentum. States would fund their own police—though the Federal Government can chip in with grants if the National Police Council recommends it and the National Assembly approves it. No guarantees though. No minimum federal contribution spelled out. No funding formula. It’s flexible, which is both good and uncertain.
The constitutional amendments already laid the groundwork. State assemblies now have the power to create and oversee their own police forces. But here’s the catch—states have to foot most of the bill themselves.
The FCT’s situation is unique. It sits outside all of this because it’s federal territory, not a state. So while other parts of Nigeria move toward localized policing, the FCT stays under federal control. And given how the territory is structured, that probably isn’t changing anytime soon.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
