Nigeria’s proposed establishment of state police has moved closer to becoming a reality following the approval of the constitutional amendment by 28 State Houses of Assembly, exceeding the constitutionally required threshold of 24 states.
The development represents a significant step in the country’s efforts to restructure its policing system and strengthen responses to growing security challenges, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, confirming that the required number of state legislatures had approved the proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, which seeks to establish State Police Services.
According to Ogunlana, the National Assembly had received and verified approval reports from 28 state legislatures.
He explained that the number exceeded the constitutional requirement of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 states, as provided under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.
The National Assembly is now undertaking the necessary administrative procedures to transmit the bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
How the constitutional amendment process progressed
The proposed state police amendment was transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, for consideration and approval.
The state legislatures were requested to communicate their decisions to the National Assembly within 30 days.
Although the deadline expired on October 15, Ogunlana explained that his office continued receiving approval reports from state assemblies until the required number was achieved.
Following the receipt of the reports, the Office of the Clerk undertook administrative verification of the accompanying Votes and Proceedings to establish their authenticity.
The verification process was important to ensure that the approvals reflected the actual decisions taken by the respective state legislatures.
With 28 states now having approved the amendment, the proposal has surpassed the constitutional requirement for this stage of the process.
Ogunlana also clarified an aspect of the constitutional amendment procedure, explaining that Section 9 does not expressly require a third reading for a Constitution Alteration Bill, unlike the procedure applicable to ordinary bills.
He stated that the necessary administrative arrangements were being made to facilitate the transmission of the bill to the President in accordance with the Acts Authentication Act.
Why Nigeria is considering state police
The demand for state police has continued to gain attention as Nigeria struggles with different security threats across its regions.
The country currently operates a centrally controlled policing system under the Nigeria Police Force, with the Federal Government maintaining authority over the force.
However, supporters of decentralised policing have argued that a single national structure may not always respond effectively to security challenges that differ from one state to another.
For instance, some communities face persistent kidnapping and banditry, while others experience communal conflicts, organised crime and other security threats.
Proponents believe that allowing state governments to establish their own police services could improve local intelligence gathering and make security operations more responsive to the needs of individual communities.
They also argue that state police officers would be better positioned to understand local languages, cultures and geographical conditions, potentially improving cooperation between residents and security personnel.
The proposed system is expected to operate alongside the existing federal policing structure rather than automatically replacing it.
Concerns surrounding state-controlled policing
Despite the support for the proposal, the establishment of state police has generated concerns about possible political interference and abuse of power.
Critics have warned that governors could potentially use state-controlled police formations to intimidate political opponents, suppress peaceful protests or interfere with civil liberties.
There are also questions surrounding funding, recruitment, training, operational standards and accountability.
Some states may have stronger financial resources than others, raising concerns about whether all state police formations would have sufficient equipment and personnel to perform their duties effectively.
Human rights organisations and security experts have also emphasised the need for strong oversight mechanisms to prevent misconduct.
These concerns are expected to remain important during the development of the legal and operational framework governing the proposed police system.
What happens next?
The next major stage involves the transmission of the approved constitutional amendment to President Tinubu for assent.
Presidential assent would be an important step in completing the constitutional amendment process.
However, establishing an operational state police system will also require the necessary legislative framework, institutional arrangements and implementation measures.
Questions surrounding recruitment, funding, training, jurisdiction and cooperation between federal and state police authorities will need to be addressed.
The development marks an important moment in Nigeria’s constitutional and security reform discussions.
For citizens, the major expectation is that any new policing arrangement will improve public safety, strengthen accountability and ensure that communities receive faster and more effective security responses.
While the approval by 28 state assemblies represents significant progress, the success of the proposed system will ultimately depend on how effectively it is implemented and managed across the country.
