The Senate has explained why the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will not be included in Nigeria’s proposed state police system.

The Senate said Abuja lacks the constitutional structures required to operate a police force under the planned arrangement.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, said the FCT has no governor or State House of Assembly.

He explained that the territory is directly administered by the Federal Government through the Minister of the FCT.

According to Adaramodu, the minister operates under the direction of the Federal Executive Council, while the National Assembly performs legislative functions for the FCT.

He said the arrangement makes the FCT different from the 36 states that have elected governors and state legislatures.

“I have heard many people raise a lot of questions on why the Federal Capital Territory is not among the plan for state police. The FCT issue is different. It is under the Federal Government,” he said.

Adaramodu added that since Abuja does not have its own legislature, it cannot adopt the same policing structure being proposed for the states.

“The federal capital does not have an assembly. The National Assembly is the body that makes laws for the Federal Capital Territory.

“That’s why it has to be the same as what the Federal Government does. So, the federal police are responsible,” he said.

The clarification comes as the Federal Government advances plans to introduce state police across the country.

President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive the draft Executive National Policing Bill on September 3.