President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026 to the House of Representatives, seeking legislative approval for the establishment of state police services across the country.
The proposed constitutional amendment is aimed at allowing states to create and manage their own police structures, a move supporters say could improve security response and address local security challenges more effectively.
The bill will now undergo legislative consideration, including debates, committee review, and possible voting by lawmakers before it can proceed through the constitutional amendment process.
The push for state police has been a long-standing national debate, with advocates arguing that decentralising policing would enhance intelligence gathering and community-based security, while critics have raised concerns about possible political interference and abuse of power.
If approved, the reform would mark a significant change in Nigeria’s current
security architecture, which is largely controlled by the federal government.
THE NATION
