President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a major step toward the creation of state police by forwarding a constitutional amendment bill to the Senate, seeking to decentralise policing and strengthen security across the country.
The proposed legislation, known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026, was formally presented to lawmakers during Tuesday’s plenary session after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s letter on the floor of the chamber.
The bill seeks to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to allow states to establish and operate their own police services, a proposal that has been at the centre of national discussions on security reform for years.
Akpabio described the measure as a significant legislative initiative aimed at tackling insecurity and bringing law enforcement closer to local communities.
He argued that communities often possess valuable information about criminal activities within their localities and that state policing could improve intelligence gathering, crime detection, and public safety.
According to the Senate President, the proposal reflects the outcome of extensive consultations and deliberations carried out over nearly two years by the National Assembly’s Constitution Review Committee and other stakeholders.
“This is an epoch-making legislation that can significantly address insecurity and encourage broader participation of communities in maintaining public safety,” Akpabio said.
He added that several state governments had already indicated their support for the initiative and were prepared to implement the new framework once the constitutional amendment process is completed.
The Senate President commended lawmakers for reconvening to consider the state police proposal and other constitutional amendment bills, noting that copies of the relevant committee report had been distributed to senators for scrutiny.
He also praised members of the Constitution Review Committee for their work in developing the proposal, describing it as one of the most important constitutional reforms currently before the National Assembly.
Akpabio subsequently directed the committee to resubmit its report on Wednesday to enable further legislative consideration, stressing the Senate’s commitment to expediting action on the bill before proceeding on its annual recess.
However, further deliberation on the proposal was postponed after lawmakers received news of the death of Yaya Tongo, who represented the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Following the announcement, Akpabio conveyed the Senate’s condolences to the deceased lawmaker’s family, friends, and constituents.
A minute of silence was subsequently observed in honour of the late legislator before the Senate adjourned discussion on the state police bill until Wednesday.
The renewed push for state police comes amid persistent concerns over insecurity across various parts of the country and growing calls from governors, traditional rulers, security experts, and civil society groups for a more decentralised policing system.
Proponents argue that state police would complement federal security agencies, improve response times, and enhance community-based policing, while opponents have expressed concerns about possible political interference and abuse of such forces by state authorities.
If eventually approved by the National Assembly and ratified by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, the amendment would fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s policing structure and mark a major constitutional reform in the country’s democratic era.
Leave a Reply