Tinubu Sends State Police Amendment Bill to Senate

Abuja, Nigeria 🇳🇬 June 23, 2026

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police to the Senate, in what is being described as a major step toward restructuring Nigeria's security architecture.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to empower states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force. The move is aimed at strengthening internal security and improving responses to growing security challenges across the country.

The bill comes amid persistent concerns over terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and other violent crimes that have continued to affect many parts of Nigeria. Advocates of state policing argue that decentralizing law enforcement will enhance intelligence gathering, improve response times, and allow security agencies to better address local threats.

Sources within the National Assembly indicate that the Senate is expected to give priority attention to the bill as part of ongoing constitutional review efforts. If approved by the National Assembly and subsequently ratified by at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly, the amendment will pave the way for the creation of state-controlled police forces nationwide.

The proposal has generated mixed reactions among stakeholders. Supporters believe state police will complement federal security efforts and provide a more effective framework for tackling insecurity. However, critics have raised concerns over possible political interference by state governments and the potential abuse of state-controlled security outfits.

Security experts have also called for clear guidelines on funding, recruitment, training, operational standards, and oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability and prevent conflicts between federal and state law enforcement agencies.

The state police debate has remained one of the most significant issues in Nigeria's constitutional reform discourse, with several governors, traditional rulers, and civil society groups advocating for greater decentralization of policing powers.

Should the bill become law, it would mark one of the most far-reaching security reforms in Nigeria's democratic history and fundamentally reshape the country's policing structure.