President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted a constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police to the Senate, paving the way for what could become one of Nigeria’s most significant security reforms in decades.
The proposed legislation, read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, seeks to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to create a legal framework that would allow states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the federal Nigeria Police Force.
Lawmakers are expected to vote on the bill, a move that could accelerate efforts to decentralise policing amid growing concerns over terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and other security threats across the country.
The proposal forms a key pillar of the Tinubu administration’s plan to overhaul Nigeria’s security architecture by granting state governments greater responsibility for maintaining law and order within their jurisdictions. Supporters argue that state police would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen emergency response and enable security agencies to better understand local dynamics.
However, the initiative has also reignited debate over the potential misuse of state-controlled police forces by governors and concerns about funding, operational standards and coordination between federal and state security agencies. Critics insist that strong constitutional safeguards will be required to prevent political interference and protect civil liberties.
If approved by the Senate, the constitutional amendment will still require the endorsement of at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can receive presidential assent and become law, marking another crucial step in the country’s long-running conversation on restructuring and security reform.
