President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police to the Senate, marking a significant step toward one of the most far-reaching security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the creation and operation of state police across the federation.
The move comes amid growing concerns over insecurity and renewed calls for the decentralisation of policing powers to enable state governments to play a more active role in protecting lives and property within their jurisdictions.
President Tinubu has repeatedly advocated constitutional reforms to accommodate state police, arguing that the current security challenges require greater collaboration between the federal and state governments.
In February, the President urged the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to allow the establishment of state police, describing the initiative as a critical measure for tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
During his Democracy Day address earlier this month, Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to combating insecurity, declaring that terrorists, bandits and their sponsors would face the full force of the law.
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He stated that more than 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the previous year and noted a significant reduction in terrorism-related fatalities across the country.
Despite the gains, the President acknowledged that the continued captivity of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states underscored the need for more effective security measures.
The state police proposal has gained momentum in recent months, with both chambers of the National Assembly advancing constitutional amendment processes aimed at restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture.
The development comes as the Senate prepares to reconvene for an emergency plenary session, where lawmakers are expected to consider the bill alongside other security-related measures.
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If passed by the National Assembly and approved through the constitutional amendment process, the legislation would empower states to establish and maintain their own police services, subject to constitutional safeguards and regulatory provisions.
Supporters of state police argue that the reform will enhance local intelligence gathering, improve response times to security threats, and strengthen community-based policing, while critics have raised concerns about potential abuse by state governments.
The Senate’s consideration of the bill is expected to generate extensive debate as lawmakers weigh its implications for national security, federalism, and governance.
