Nigeria has taken a significant step toward restructuring its security system after the Senate passed the constitutional amendment bill to establish state police, a landmark decision that could transform law enforcement across the country.
The bill, which received the required support from lawmakers during plenary, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force. The move follows years of debate over the need to decentralize policing in response to growing insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and communal violence.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the passage of the amendment as a major milestone in Nigeria’s democratic and security reforms. He said the legislation reflects the National Assembly’s commitment to strengthening the country’s security architecture and giving states greater capacity to protect lives and property.
Supporters of the amendment argue that state police will improve intelligence gathering, enhance community policing, and enable faster responses to local security threats. They believe governors and local authorities are better positioned to understand the unique security challenges within their jurisdictions than a centralized police system.
However, the proposal has also attracted criticism. Some lawmakers, civil society groups, and legal experts have expressed concerns that state police could be abused by governors to intimidate political opponents or interfere with electoral processes. To address these concerns, the amendment includes provisions for oversight, accountability, operational standards, and coordination with federal security agencies.
The passage of the bill marks only one stage of the constitutional amendment process. The proposal must still secure approval from at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.
President Tinubu has consistently expressed support for state policing, describing it as an important reform needed to strengthen internal security and improve the country’s ability to respond to evolving threats. The administration has argued that decentralizing policing will complement the efforts of federal security agencies rather than replace them.
Governors and regional leaders across the country have largely welcomed the Senate’s decision, saying it could help tackle persistent security challenges more effectively. Security analysts also believe the reform could usher in a new era of community-based policing if implemented with adequate safeguards and sustainable funding.
The Senate’s approval is being hailed as one of the most consequential constitutional reforms in recent years. If eventually ratified and signed into law, the amendment will fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s policing structure and could become one of the defining security reforms of the Fourth Republic.
