KEY POINTS
• President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a constitutional amendment bill seeking the creation of state police forces to the Senate.
• The proposed legislation aims to decentralise policing powers and strengthen states’ ability to tackle insecurity.
• The Senate is expected to consider the bill as part of broader constitutional reforms that could significantly transform Nigeria’s security framework.
President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police across Nigeria to the Senate, marking a significant development in the country’s ongoing efforts to address insecurity and strengthen local policing.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the creation and operation of state police forces throughout the federation.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, announced the development during Tuesday’s plenary session, informing lawmakers that the upper chamber would begin consideration of the constitutional amendment bill on Wednesday.
Akpabio also disclosed that state governments have indicated their readiness to consider the proposal once it is formally transmitted to them, signalling growing support for one of Nigeria’s most debated security reforms.
The bill is expected to receive accelerated legislative attention as lawmakers seek solutions to persistent security challenges across the country. The move follows repeated calls by President Tinubu for constitutional reforms that would grant states greater authority in securing their territories.
In February, the President urged the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to accommodate state police, arguing that decentralising policing powers would strengthen efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
Supporters of the proposal have long argued that state-controlled police forces would be more familiar with local communities and better positioned to respond swiftly to security threats.
During his Democracy Day address earlier this month, President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity.
He vowed that terrorists, bandits, and their sponsors would face the full force of the law, stressing that there would be no mercy for those threatening the nation’s peace and stability.
The President stated that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the past year and noted a significant reduction in terrorism-related deaths compared to previous years.
Despite these gains, he acknowledged that the continued captivity of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states remains a painful reminder of the security challenges facing the country.
Momentum Builds for State Police
The state police proposal has gained increasing momentum in recent months, with both chambers of the National Assembly advancing constitutional amendment initiatives aimed at decentralising policing responsibilities.
Advocates believe the reform could improve intelligence gathering, community engagement, and rapid response to criminal activities, while critics have raised concerns about potential political abuse and funding challenges.
Nevertheless, the proposal is widely regarded as one of the most far-reaching security reforms being considered since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule.
The Senate is also expected to reconvene for an emergency plenary session as lawmakers move to deliberate on the bill and other constitutional amendment proposals.
If passed by the National Assembly and approved by the required number of state legislatures, the amendment could fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s policing system and redefine the role of states in maintaining internal security.
The outcome of the legislative process will be closely watched by security experts, state governments, and citizens seeking more effective solutions to the country’s security challenges.
