Special Report
By Chukwudi George Ozalla
The Senate on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, passed the State Police Bill, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to reform its security architecture and address growing concerns over insecurity across the country.
The bill was passed during plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio after lawmakers considered and adopted the report of the Committee of the Whole on the proposed constitutional amendment.
Officially titled A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Provide for the Establishment of State Police and Related Matters and designated as Senate Bill 1055, the legislation seeks to create a constitutional framework for the establishment and operation of state police services alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.
Its passage followed extensive deliberations by lawmakers who argued that the country’s current security realities demand a more decentralized policing structure capable of responding swiftly and effectively to local security challenges.
The development came barely a day after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu transmitted the constitutional amendment proposal to the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to give it expedited consideration in view of the worsening security situation in several parts of the country.
At Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio read the President’s communication to lawmakers and subsequently referred the proposal for legislative consideration. During Wednesday’s session, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole to examine the various clauses of the bill before returning to plenary for its final passage.
Leading debate on the proposal, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the bill was designed to strengthen internal security by creating a complementary policing framework that would bring law enforcement closer to communities.
Bamidele stated that the existing centralized policing system had become overstretched in the face of emerging security threats across the federation.
He added that the proposed amendment would empower states to establish police formations that understand local languages, culture, terrain and peculiar security dynamics.
According to him, “The security challenges confronting the country today require innovative and practical solutions. State police will complement the efforts of the Federal Police and improve intelligence gathering and response capabilities.”
Several senators who contributed to the debate stressed the need for urgent reforms in the nation’s security structure.
Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno, said the establishment of state police would help bridge existing security gaps and provide legal frameworks for community-based policing initiatives already operating in various states.
He further stated that many communities currently depend on vigilante groups and local security outfits because of the inability of the conventional policing system to adequately cover every part of the country.
“The reality before us is that insecurity has become more sophisticated. We must provide constitutional mechanisms that will enable states to participate actively in protecting lives and property,” he said.
Other lawmakers who supported the bill maintained that governors, who are constitutionally regarded as chief security officers of their states, have long complained about their inability to exercise direct operational control over police commands within their jurisdictions despite being held accountable by citizens whenever security breaches occur.
The senators argued that the proposed state police system would improve coordination between state authorities and security agencies while enhancing intelligence gathering at the grassroots level.
After considering the recommendations before it, the Senate approved the bill and adopted the report of the Committee of the Whole, paving the way for the next constitutional stages required for the amendment to become law.
The passage of the bill represents one of the most significant constitutional reforms undertaken by the National Assembly in recent years and comes against the backdrop of mounting security challenges across the federation.
For more than a decade, Nigeria has battled multiple security threats ranging from terrorism and insurgency in the North-East to banditry in the North-West, farmer-herder conflicts in the North-Central, kidnapping for ransom across several regions and separatist-related violence in parts of the South-East.
The growing complexity of these challenges has intensified calls for a review of the country’s policing structure.
Many security experts have argued that a centralized police system serving a population of over 200 million people is no longer sufficient to meet contemporary security demands.
The Nigeria Police Force, despite efforts at reform and expansion, continues to face challenges relating to manpower shortages, inadequate logistics, limited intelligence coverage and delayed response times in remote communities.
These concerns have repeatedly fueled demands for state police by governors, traditional rulers, civil society organizations and security analysts.
Supporters of the bill contend that officers recruited from local communities are more likely to possess a better understanding of local terrain, languages, cultural dynamics and emerging threats.
They argue that such familiarity can significantly improve intelligence gathering and enable faster responses to security incidents.
Advocates also believe that state police would reduce the burden on federal security agencies and strengthen preventive policing through community engagement.
For decades, the debate over state police has remained one of the most contentious issues in Nigeria’s constitutional and political discourse.
Opponents have consistently expressed concerns that governors could misuse state-controlled police formations to intimidate political opponents, suppress dissent and influence electoral outcomes.
Others have raised questions regarding funding, accountability and operational standards.
Some analysts fear that wealthier states may establish more effective police formations while less financially viable states could struggle to sustain their operations.
To address these concerns, the proposed constitutional amendment contains provisions aimed at ensuring oversight, regulation and coordination between federal and state policing authorities.
The bill also establishes constitutional safeguards intended to prevent abuse and ensure that state police formations operate within clearly defined legal boundaries.
Despite Wednesday’s passage by the Senate, the journey toward the creation of state police is far from complete.
As a constitutional amendment, the proposal must secure approval from at least two-thirds of the country’s State Houses of Assembly before it can proceed to the final stage.
This means that no fewer than 24 of the 36 state legislatures must endorse the amendment before it can be transmitted for presidential assent.
The coming weeks are therefore expected to witness intense consultations among governors, lawmakers, political leaders and stakeholders across the federation as efforts begin to secure the required endorsements.
Political observers believe the position adopted by state governments will play a crucial role in determining the eventual fate of the amendment.
Several governors have openly supported the establishment of state police over the years and are expected to lobby their respective legislatures to approve the proposal.
Others, however, may seek additional safeguards before giving their backing.
The outcome of the state legislative process will determine whether Nigeria finally embraces a policing model that has been debated for decades.
Should the amendment eventually secure the required approvals and presidential assent, it would usher in one of the most far-reaching changes to Nigeria’s security framework since the country’s return to democratic governance in 1999.
For millions of Nigerians living under the shadow of kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, communal violence and other security threats, the passage of the State Police Bill by the Senate represents more than a constitutional exercise. It is a bold attempt to redefine how security is managed in the country and a significant step toward addressing one of the nation’s most persistent challenges.
The success of the reform will depend on the ability of political leaders, institutions and stakeholders to ensure that the proposed system strengthens public safety while maintaining accountability, professionalism and respect for the rule of law.
