President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a constitutional amendment bill seeking the creation of state police to the Senate, marking a major step in efforts to reform Nigeria’s security structure. The development was announced on Tuesday during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who disclosed that lawmakers would begin consideration of the proposal on Wednesday.
According to Akpabio, state governments are also expected to review the bill once it is transmitted to them. The proposed legislation seeks to amend sections of the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal foundation for the establishment and operation of state police across the country.
The move comes after several calls for security reforms aimed at giving state governments greater authority in tackling insecurity within their territories. In recent months, concerns over terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes have renewed debates over the need to decentralise policing in Nigeria.
Tinubu has repeatedly backed the idea of state police, arguing that states should play a more active role in maintaining law and order. Earlier this year, he urged the National Assembly to make the necessary constitutional changes that would allow the creation of state-controlled police formations.
The President has maintained that strengthening local security structures is necessary to improve intelligence gathering and enable quicker responses to threats in different parts of the country. His administration believes the proposed reform could help address security challenges that have persisted despite efforts by federal security agencies.
During his Democracy Day address this month, Tinubu reiterated his commitment to confronting insecurity, stating that terrorists, bandits and those supporting criminal activities would face strict consequences. He also pointed to gains recorded by security agencies over the past year, including the elimination of thousands of terrorists and a reduction in deaths linked to insurgency and violent attacks.
Despite those gains, the President acknowledged that insecurity remains a concern in some areas, particularly following incidents involving the abduction of schoolchildren in parts of Oyo and Borno states.
The state police proposal has gained support from several stakeholders in recent years, with advocates arguing that it would improve security management and allow states to respond more effectively to local threats. Others, however, have expressed concerns about possible abuse of state-controlled police by political leaders, making constitutional safeguards a key part of ongoing discussions.
Both chambers of the National Assembly have been considering various constitutional amendment proposals, with state police emerging as one of the most discussed reforms. Lawmakers are expected to continue deliberations on the bill as part of broader efforts to reshape the country’s security framework.
The Senate is also scheduled to hold an emergency plenary session as legislators work on the proposed amendment, which many observers consider one of the most far-reaching security reforms since the return of democratic rule in Nigeria.
If approved by the National Assembly and supported by the required number of state assemblies, the bill could pave the way for the establishment of state police forces across the federation.