A bill seeking to regulate and license the operation of private investigators in Nigeria was shut down by the Senate on Wednesday. The bill, sponsored by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), was met with strong opposition after over an hour of heated deliberation during the Senate’s plenary session.
Senator Ngwu presented the bill, explaining that it aimed to establish a legal framework for the licensing and regulation of private investigators in the country, ensuring that professional standards were maintained in the industry. He emphasized that the bill sought to introduce a system of control over the practice, helping to regulate how private investigators operate within Nigeria.
However, some senators expressed concerns that the bill could lead to serious breaches of privacy and potential misuse of investigative powers. Senators Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), Aminu Abass (Adamawa Central), and Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) opposed the bill, with Oshiomhole describing it as a “recipe for disaster,” warning against the dangers of spying on Nigerians’ private lives.
Read Also: Renowned Cleric Urges Prayers for Matawalle, General Musa in Fight Against Banditry
Despite support from some lawmakers, including Senators Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Lere Oyewunmi (Osun West), and Mohammed Mungono, the concerns raised by the opposition were significant enough for Senate President Godswill Akpabio to intervene. Akpabio advised Senator Ngwu to step down the bill and seek further consultation with his colleagues who raised objections.
In a separate development, the Senate passed a bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Agriculture and Tropical Studies in Irabiji, Osun State. The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), received broad support and passed its second reading without much debate. The bill has now been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and Tetfund for further review, with a report expected in three weeks.
If passed into law, Osun State would become home to three federal universities, including the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun, and the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
The debate continues over the role of private investigators in Nigeria, but for now, the bill has been shelved pending further consultations.