Nigeria has moved closer to establishing state police after 28 State Houses of Assembly approved a proposed constitutional amendment seeking to create State Police Services across the country.
The development was confirmed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, who stated that the approvals received from the state legislatures had been verified. The number of approving states exceeds the constitutional requirement of 24 states, representing two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states.
The proposed amendment seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment and operation of state police. The bill was transmitted to the state assemblies on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval.
According to the National Assembly, the necessary administrative processes are being undertaken to transmit the bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent. The development represents a significant step towards decentralising Nigeria’s policing system, which is currently controlled at the federal level.
The proposal comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in different parts of the country, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence. Supporters of state police believe that allowing state governments to establish their own police forces would improve intelligence gathering and enable security agencies to respond more quickly to threats within their communities.
Advocates have also argued that state police could reduce the pressure on the Nigeria Police Force by allowing security operations to be organised according to the specific needs of individual states.
However, the proposal has generated concerns about possible political interference and abuse of power. Some critics fear that governors could use state-controlled police forces against political opponents or individuals who criticise their administrations.
Questions surrounding funding, recruitment, accountability and the protection of human rights are also expected to play important roles in the implementation of the proposed reform.
The establishment of state police is therefore regarded as a major development in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its security system and improve public safety.
