Nigeria has moved a significant step closer to establishing state police after the Senate passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to decentralise policing and create state-controlled police services alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.
The development follows years of debate over the need for state police as a solution to the country’s growing security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes and other violent crimes.
With the Senate’s approval, the proposed amendment now heads to the 36 state Houses of Assembly, where it must secure the backing of at least 24 legislatures before it can become part of the Constitution.
The bill, already endorsed by both chambers of the National Assembly, is considered one of the most far-reaching constitutional reforms since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999.
Under the proposed arrangement, each state will have its own police service headed by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state House of Assembly. The Nigeria Police Force will remain responsible for federal policing duties and national security operations.
According to the amendment, state police will handle the enforcement of state laws, maintenance of public order, crime prevention and protection of lives and property within their jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, federal police will continue to oversee matters such as terrorism, cybercrime, border security, organised crime, arms trafficking and other issues affecting national security.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, while defending the bill, said the proposal was carefully designed to balance local policing powers with national oversight.
He explained that federal authorities would only intervene in state policing matters under specific conditions, including a breakdown of public order, inability of state police to function effectively, serious violations of fundamental rights, threats to national security, or cases involving electoral intimidation.
Any such intervention, he noted, would require written approval from the President and remain subject to Senate oversight and judicial review.
To address concerns that governors could misuse state police for political purposes, lawmakers included safeguards in the amendment.
One of the provisions states that a state Commissioner of Police cannot arrest, detain, investigate or deploy force against any individual, political party or group simply for criticising the government, except as permitted by law.
The amendment also empowers the National Assembly to set minimum standards for recruitment, training, discipline, use of force, accountability mechanisms and professional conduct across all state police services.
The Senate approved the bill after a manual voting process was adopted due to technical issues with electronic voting devices.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the manual method ensured transparency and allowed constituents to know how their representatives voted on the landmark legislation.
The voting session attracted several prominent figures, including governors and senior government officials who observed proceedings from the gallery.
Support for the proposal has continued to grow among security experts and stakeholders.
Retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Alapinni, described state police as a necessary step toward strengthening community policing and improving intelligence gathering.
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Similarly, the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, declared its readiness for the transition, arguing that its success in tackling local crimes across the South-West demonstrates the effectiveness of decentralised security structures.
The Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission, Seye Oyeleye, also welcomed the Senate’s decision, describing it as a major victory for advocates of true federalism.
He noted that state police would bring law enforcement closer to communities and significantly increase the country’s policing capacity.
Despite the widespread support, concerns remain about possible abuse of state police by political office holders. However, supporters insist that constitutional safeguards and oversight mechanisms will help prevent misuse.
The fate of the bill now rests with state assemblies across the country. If at least 24 states approve the amendment, Nigeria will be on course to implement one of the most significant changes to its security architecture in decades.
