President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a constitutional amendment bill to the Senate seeking the creation of state police as part of broader efforts to restructure Nigeria’s security framework.
The proposal was disclosed on Tuesday during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who said the upper chamber would begin consideration of the bill on Wednesday.
According to him, the legislation will also be transmitted to state governments for input and consideration as part of the constitutional amendment process.
The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide legal backing for the establishment of state-level policing structures across the country.
The initiative follows renewed calls by the President for security reforms aimed at improving responses to terrorism, banditry, and other internal security threats. He had earlier urged the National Assembly to support the creation of state police as part of decentralised security measures.
During his recent Democracy Day address, the President reiterated his administration’s hardline stance on insecurity, stating that terrorist groups and their sponsors would be decisively dealt with. He also cited claims that over 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the past year and noted a reduction in terrorism-related fatalities compared to previous years.
However, he acknowledged ongoing concerns, particularly the continued captivity of abducted schoolchildren in parts of Oyo State and Borno State, describing it as a painful reminder of Nigeria’s security challenges.
The proposed reform has long been a subject of national debate. Supporters argue that state policing would improve intelligence gathering, enhance community-based security, and enable faster responses to local threats. Critics, however, warn that it could lead to abuse by state governors, political manipulation of security agencies, and heightened regional tensions.
If approved, the bill must secure a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly and gain endorsement from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before receiving presidential assent.
The proposed framework would introduce a dual policing structure, allowing both federal and state police to operate within constitutionally defined jurisdictions, marking a significant shift in Nigeria’s security architecture.
