Momentum is building for the creation of state police in Nigeria as the Senate prepares to take decisive action on a constitutional amendment that could reshape the country’s security architecture.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has revealed that lawmakers are set to prioritise the state police bill this week, citing an unprecedented level of agreement among key stakeholders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors and the National Assembly.
According to Bamidele, the proposal has gained broad national support, prompting lawmakers to separate it from other constitutional amendment bills and accelerate its passage.
The move follows intensive consultations involving federal lawmakers, top government officials, security chiefs and constitutional experts aimed at resolving outstanding issues surrounding the establishment of state-controlled police forces.
With insecurity remaining a major concern across the country, advocates of the proposal argue that decentralised policing would enable faster responses to local threats and improve intelligence gathering at the grassroots level.
Bamidele said the National Assembly intends to conclude legislative action on the measure quickly so that it can be transmitted to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for ratification, a constitutional requirement before presidential assent.
The Senate Leader expressed confidence that the bill would receive the necessary backing from state legislatures, noting that governors and other stakeholders have consistently endorsed the initiative.
If approved, the amendment would mark one of the most significant reforms to Nigeria’s policing structure since the return to democratic rule, ending decades of exclusive federal control over law enforcement.
The development comes as the Presidency concludes consultations on the legal and operational framework for state police, with a final report expected to be submitted to President Tinubu in the coming days.