President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally transmitted a constitutional amendment bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police, setting the stage for what could become one of the most significant security reforms since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule.
The proposed legislation, read on the floor of the Senate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday, aims to decentralise the country’s policing structure by allowing states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
The move marks a major shift from Nigeria’s long-standing centralised policing system and follows years of debate over the effectiveness of a single federal police structure in addressing growing security threats across the country.
In his communication to lawmakers, President Tinubu said the bill seeks to provide a constitutional framework for a dual policing arrangement capable of improving security response, enhancing intelligence gathering and strengthening community-based law enforcement.
Under the proposal, states, municipalities and local government areas would play more active roles in maintaining security and preventing crime within their jurisdictions.
The President described the initiative as a critical component of broader efforts to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture and address persistent challenges ranging from banditry and kidnapping to communal violence and other forms of criminality.
Following the presentation of the bill, Akpabio referred it to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review with a directive to report back to the chamber on Wednesday.
The Senate President stressed the importance of community-driven policing, arguing that local authorities are often better positioned to detect security threats before they escalate.
According to him, a decentralised policing system would enable communities to identify suspicious activities early and provide actionable intelligence to security agencies.
Akpabio also disclosed that the implementation of state police would be undertaken through a phased process involving constitutional amendments and supporting legislation by the National Assembly.
He assured Nigerians that adequate safeguards would be incorporated into the framework to prevent abuse and ensure accountability.
“We will do it in two phases through alteration and an Act of Parliament. There will be a lot of safeguards,” he said.
The Senate President urged lawmakers to attend the next sitting, noting that constitutional amendments require the support of at least two-thirds of members of the National Assembly.
He described the state police proposal as a national issue that transcends partisan politics, regional interests and geopolitical considerations.
“The issue of state police is non-partisan and cuts across geopolitical zones and interests,” Akpabio stated.
The renewed push for state police comes amid increasing calls from governors, security experts, traditional rulers and civil society groups for a more decentralised security structure capable of responding effectively to local security realities.
Supporters of the proposal argue that state police would improve intelligence gathering, enhance response times and strengthen collaboration between communities and law enforcement agencies.
However, critics have previously expressed concerns that state-controlled police formations could be abused by political office holders, making the proposed safeguards a key aspect of the ongoing legislative debate.
If passed by the National Assembly and approved by the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the bill would fundamentally alter Nigeria’s policing structure and potentially redefine security governance across the federation.
