Nigeria has moved closer to establishing state police following the endorsement of a proposed constitutional amendment by about 30 of the country’s 36 State Houses of Assembly. Senate President Godswill Akpabio disclosed the development during a meeting with representatives of the Arewa Revival Project in Abuja, expressing confidence that the long-debated reform was approaching the final stages of legislative approval. The proposal seeks to decentralise policing by allowing states to establish their own law enforcement organisations alongside a federal police service. The announcement follows increasing public concern over kidnapping, banditry, communal violence and other security challenges affecting communities across Nigeria. However, the constitutional amendment has not yet taken effect, and no state police force has been established under the proposed national framework.
Akpibio made the disclosure while receiving members of the Arewa Revival Project, a northern youth organisation with a presence across the 19 northern states, at his office on Wednesday, October 28. He explained that the endorsement by approximately 30 state legislatures represented significant progress towards creating a decentralised policing system. The Senate President maintained that state police would complement existing federal security institutions and improve responses to threats by bringing law enforcement closer to communities. He expressed optimism that the amendment process could be completed soon, although the timetable remains dependent on the remaining constitutional and administrative procedures. His remarks provided the latest public confirmation of the increase in state legislative support.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio disclosed that approximately 30 State Houses of Assembly had endorsed the proposed policing amendment.
The latest endorsements exceed the constitutional threshold required for the proposal to advance. Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, an ordinary constitutional amendment must secure the support of at least two-thirds of the members of each chamber of the National Assembly and resolutions from at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly. This translates to approval by a minimum of 24 state legislatures. The proposed amendment had already passed the Senate on June 24, 2026, and the House of Representatives on July 23 before being transmitted to the states for consideration on September 16. The increase to approximately 30 endorsements means that the state approval requirement has been surpassed, although completion of the remaining process is still necessary before the reform becomes legally operational.
The recent approvals included those of Lagos, Niger, Kogi and Ebonyi states, whose legislatures considered the proposed amendment as part of the ongoing constitutional alteration exercise. Their endorsements followed earlier approvals by states including Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Kwara, Adamawa, Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Zamfara and several others. By October 23, the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill had already announced that the constitutional requirement had been satisfied after 24 state assemblies endorsed the legislation. Subsequent approvals strengthened support for the proposal and reduced uncertainty about whether the reform would secure the required state backing. Nevertheless, the final certified record of resolutions transmitted to the National Assembly remains important for completing the formal legislative procedure.
The proposed Constitution Sixth Alteration Bill, 2026, seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing both federal and state governments to legislate on relevant policing matters. Under the proposed arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force would continue performing national responsibilities while individual states establish police services for security operations within their territories. The framework also provides for cooperation between the two levels of policing, including federal intervention in exceptional circumstances involving serious breakdowns of law and order or requests for assistance from state authorities. State governments would be expected to establish appropriate administrative and oversight structures before their police services commence operations. The final allocation of responsibilities will depend on the constitutional provisions and accompanying legislation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who chairs the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, has confirmed that preparations for the implementation framework are progressing. In a statement issued on October 23, the working group explained that the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, and related legislative amendments were undergoing technical review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice. The review was expected to be completed by Friday, October 30, after which the proposed legislation would receive further consideration before presentation to the President. The working group stressed that the objective was to establish a coordinated policing system that improves public safety while preserving the responsibilities of federal law enforcement institutions.
Presidential Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila chairs the working group developing the proposed National Policing Bill.
The reform follows decades of debate over whether Nigeria should continue relying on a centrally controlled police organisation or allow states to operate their own security forces. Under the current constitutional system, the Nigeria Police Force is established as a federal institution, although state governments have developed community security organisations and neighbourhood protection initiatives to support law enforcement. In February 2024, the House of Representatives advanced another proposal to establish state police, while a national dialogue held in Abuja in April 2024 brought together political leaders, security stakeholders and civil society representatives to consider the implications of decentralisation. Those earlier efforts contributed to the renewed legislative process that has now secured the required level of support among state assemblies.
Despite the progress, concerns remain about the potential misuse of state police by political authorities. Critics warn that governors could attempt to influence security personnel during elections, political disputes or protests unless effective institutional safeguards are established. Funding is another challenge, particularly for states struggling to meet existing salary and infrastructure obligations. Supporters, however, argue that locally recruited officers could improve intelligence gathering, respond more quickly to community threats and develop stronger relationships with residents. The debate has therefore expanded beyond whether state police should exist to include questions about appointments, independent oversight, financial sustainability, professional training and the protection of constitutional rights. The effectiveness of the proposed reform will depend heavily on how these safeguards are incorporated into the final legislation.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has particularly emphasised the need for a clear division of powers between federal and state security authorities. Speaker Mudashiru Obasa welcomed the reform but expressed concern that the proposed framework might preserve excessive federal control over policing activities within individual states. Lawmakers in Kogi and Ebonyi also endorsed the amendment, citing the need to address violent crime and improve security responses. Meanwhile, the Presidency has encouraged private sector organisations to contribute proposals on sustainable financing and institutional management. Gbajabiamila has stressed that private financial contributions must remain transparent and should not create opportunities for donors to interfere with criminal investigations or security decisions. These discussions demonstrate that financial independence and operational accountability will be central to the implementation process.
As of October 29, 2026, approximately 30 State Houses of Assembly have endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment, according to Senate President Akpabio, exceeding the minimum requirement of 24. The next steps include completing the formal constitutional process, obtaining the necessary assent and finalising the legislation governing the establishment and operation of state police services. No date has been officially confirmed for the commencement of state police recruitment or nationwide deployment. The reform could significantly alter Nigeria’s security administration by allowing state governments to assume greater responsibility for protecting their communities. However, its success will depend on clear legal powers, dependable funding, professional standards and safeguards against political interference. For communities affected by insecurity, the most important measure of the proposed system will be whether it produces safer neighbourhoods, more effective crime prevention and greater accountability in law enforcement.
