The Senate on Wednesday passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to address growing security challenges through a decentralised policing system.
The bill, transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide the legal framework for the creation of state police to operate alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
The proposal was approved after lawmakers considered and adopted its clauses during plenary, following extensive debates on the merits and potential implications of the reform.
Supporters of the bill argued that state police would strengthen community policing, improve intelligence gathering, and enable quicker responses to security threats unique to different parts of the country. They maintained that decentralising policing would enhance collaboration between security agencies and local communities, leading to more effective crime prevention and law enforcement.
However, some lawmakers and stakeholders raised concerns over the possibility of political abuse by state governments, funding requirements, and the need for robust oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability and professionalism within state-controlled police formations.
The Senate’s approval represents a major step in the constitutional amendment process. However, the proposal is not yet law. In line with constitutional requirements, the bill must secure the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it is transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for presidential assent.
If eventually signed into law, the legislation would usher in one of the most far-reaching reforms of Nigeria’s security architecture since the return to democratic rule in 1999, allowing states to establish and manage their own police services while operating within a constitutionally defined framework.