Nigeria’s Senate has passed a landmark constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police across the country, marking a major step toward decentralizing the nation’s security system.
The bill empowers state governors to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by state Houses of Assembly. It also allows governors to issue lawful policy directives on public safety and order within their states.
Supporters say the reform will help improve local intelligence, speed up security responses, and address rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and communal violence. They argue that Nigeria’s centralized police structure has become overstretched and unable to respond effectively to local threats.
However, critics warn that state police could be abused by governors to intimidate political opponents, influence elections, or suppress dissent. To address these concerns, the bill includes safeguards against unlawful arrests, detention, or use of force against citizens for criticizing government.
The proposed amendment still requires approval from at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can become law. President Bola Tinubu has previously backed state policing as part of broader security reforms.
If fully adopted, the measure would create one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s policing structure since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
