President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a constitutional amendment bill to the Senate proposing the creation of state police as part of broader reforms to Nigeria’s security system.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, disclosed this during Tuesday’s plenary session, noting that the upper chamber will deliberate on the bill on Wednesday.
He also stated that state governments are expected to consider the proposed legislation on the same day it is transmitted to them.
The bill seeks to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of state police across the country.
The proposal comes amid continued calls by the President for constitutional changes that would allow states to take a more active role in addressing security challenges within their jurisdictions.
In February, President Bola Tinubu called on the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to allow for the creation of state police, saying the reform was essential in addressing insecurity such as terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes.
During his Democracy Day speech earlier this month, the President also pledged that terrorists, bandits, and their sponsors would face the full force of the law, stressing that his administration would show no leniency to those undermining national security.
Tinubu further claimed that over 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the past year, adding that deaths linked to terrorism had reduced significantly compared to previous years.
However, he admitted that the continued detention of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State and Borno State remains a painful reminder of Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.
The creation of state police has long been a recurring subject in Nigeria’s constitutional and security reform discussions. Supporters of the idea argue that decentralising policing would strengthen intelligence gathering, improve community-based policing, and enable faster responses to local security threats, especially amid rising insecurity in various parts of the country.
On the other hand, critics have raised concerns about the risk of abuse by state governors, political interference in policing operations, and the possibility that state-controlled security outfits could be used against political opponents or deepen regional divisions.
As a constitutional amendment, the bill must secure approval from at least two-thirds of members in both the Senate and the House of Representatives before being forwarded to the 36 state Houses of Assembly. It must then be endorsed by no fewer than 24 state legislatures before receiving presidential assent.
If ultimately approved, the reform would introduce a multi-layered policing system where federal and state police operate under clearly defined constitutional roles, significantly reshaping Nigeria’s internal security structure.
BACKSTORY…
The push for state police in Nigeria has been a long-running debate tied to the country’s worsening security situation. Over the years, rising cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence have stretched the capacity of the federal policing system, which is centrally controlled by the Nigeria Police Force.
Against this backdrop, President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly advocated for constitutional reforms that would allow individual states to establish their own police forces. He first formally renewed this call in February, arguing that decentralising policing would improve response time, intelligence gathering, and overall security management at the local level.
The current bill sent to the National Assembly represents a formal step in that direction, seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to create a legal framework for state police operations. The move is part of broader security reform discussions that have gained urgency due to continued attacks and instability in several regions.
However, the idea remains controversial. While supporters see it as a practical solution to Nigeria’s security challenges, critics worry it could lead to abuse of power by state governors or deepen political tensions if not properly regulated.
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