The House of Representatives has passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to reform its security architecture and address growing insecurity across the country.
The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, proposes amendments to the 1999 Constitution to allow states to create and manage their own police forces alongside the federal police structure. The legislation seeks to decentralise policing by transferring certain policing powers from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List.
Lawmakers argued that the move has become necessary due to rising cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and other security challenges affecting various parts of the country. Supporters of the proposal believe state-controlled police forces would improve intelligence gathering, enhance community policing, and enable faster responses to local security threats.
The amendment is part of a broader constitutional review process currently being undertaken by the National Assembly. The bill specifically seeks to replace constitutional references to the “Nigeria Police Force” with the broader term “Police,” thereby creating a legal framework for state police formations.
The proposal has reportedly received support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors, the Inspector-General of Police, and other key stakeholders following months of consultations on the country’s security challenges.
However, the bill has not yet become law. As a constitutional amendment, it must also secure approval from the Senate and be ratified by at least 24 of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to the President for assent.
If eventually enacted, the reform would represent one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s policing system since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
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