The passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill on State Police by the Nigerian Senate has generated widespread debate, with many Nigerians welcoming the move while others remain concerned about its possible consequences.
The bill, transmitted to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu, seeks to give states the constitutional authority to establish and manage their own police services. It also proposes replacing the Nigeria Police Force with a Federal Police Service while allowing the Federal Government to step in during situations involving threats to national security, breakdown of law and order, failure of a state police service or serious human rights concerns.
Under the proposed law, the Federal Police Service would have the power to temporarily assume control of a state police service under specific conditions, subject to presidential approval, Senate oversight and judicial review.
During deliberations on the bill, Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele described the proposal as one of the most far-reaching constitutional reforms in the country’s democratic history. He said the measure was designed to address the shortcomings of the current centralised policing system in a country facing growing security challenges.
The move follows President Tinubu’s earlier commitment to establish state police and strengthen forest guards as part of efforts to improve security across Nigeria. The President had argued that local security outfits understand the terrain and communities better, making them more effective in responding to threats.
Reactions to the Senate’s decision have been divided. Former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, criticised the timing of the bill, describing it as politically motivated. He argued that the proposal came too late and questioned whether it would solve the country’s security problems. Dalung also warned that state governors could misuse state police against political opponents if proper safeguards are not enforced.
He further maintained that creating state police alone would not end insecurity and insisted that Nigeria’s security structure requires broader reforms to protect citizens more effectively.
Political analyst Jide Ojo took a different position, saying the creation of state police is long overdue. He noted that most federal countries operate multiple policing systems and argued that Nigeria should adopt a similar model.
According to him, the proposed law contains measures to prevent abuse while allowing states to strengthen local security based on their individual needs and resources.
Ojo also said state police would complement existing security agencies rather than replace them. He added that states facing serious security challenges would be able to recruit more officers to improve safety within their jurisdictions.
Borno South Senator Ali Ndume also backed the proposal, pointing to the country’s shortage of police personnel. He said Nigeria’s police strength falls below international recommendations for a population of more than 200 million people and argued that decentralising policing would improve security across the federation.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, however, cautioned that creating state police alone would not solve insecurity. He argued that unemployment, poverty and poor social welfare remain major drivers of crime and should be addressed alongside any policing reforms.
Falana maintained that lasting security would require a broader strategy that combines law enforcement with economic opportunities and social support for vulnerable citizens.
The bill still requires approval from state Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to the President for assent.