Nigeria has moved closer to establishing state police following the endorsement of a proposed constitutional amendment by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly, meeting the constitutional threshold required to advance the reform.
The development marks a significant step in the country’s long-running debate over whether policing powers should remain concentrated at the federal level or be shared with state governments.
On October 23, 2026, the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill announced that 24 State Houses of Assembly had approved the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which seeks to establish a dual policing system comprising federal and state police services.
The approval followed the passage of the proposal by the Senate and the House of Representatives earlier in 2026.
Under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional amendment requires approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can proceed to the presidential assent stage.
With the required threshold reportedly reached, the proposed amendment can be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent. However, the completion of this stage does not, by itself, mean state police services are already operational.
The proposed reform comes amid persistent security challenges across Nigeria, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, communal violence and attacks on rural communities.
Supporters of decentralised policing argue that state-controlled police services could improve responses to local security threats by bringing officers closer to the communities they serve.
They also believe state police could strengthen intelligence gathering, improve cooperation with local residents and enable security agencies to respond more quickly to emergencies.
The proposal would allow state governments to establish their own police services under a constitutional and legislative framework while retaining a Federal Police Service.
The federal police would continue to operate across the country, with state police services handling policing responsibilities within their respective jurisdictions under the proposed arrangements.
However, the proposed reform has also generated concerns about the possible misuse of police powers.
Critics have warned that governors could use state police to intimidate political opponents, suppress peaceful protests or target individuals and groups perceived as hostile to their administrations.
Questions have also been raised about funding, recruitment, training, operational independence and the mechanisms needed to investigate allegations of misconduct.
These concerns are particularly important in a country where state governments differ significantly in their financial capacity and institutional resources.
Some states may be able to provide modern equipment, training facilities and competitive salaries, while others could struggle to maintain adequately funded police services.
Without clear national standards and effective oversight, differences in funding and administration could affect the quality of policing across the country.
The proposed National Policing Bill is intended to provide a framework for implementing the dual policing system.
According to the Presidential Working Group, the draft legislation and related constitutional amendment bills were undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice, with the documents expected to return to the working group by October 30, 2026.
The proposed framework will therefore be important in determining how federal and state police services share responsibilities, coordinate investigations and exchange intelligence.
It will also need to establish safeguards against political interference, provide transparent procedures for handling complaints and ensure that police officers respect the fundamental rights of citizens.
Another issue is whether state police would have sufficient resources to address organised criminal networks that operate across state boundaries.
Kidnapping syndicates, armed groups and other criminal organisations may move between jurisdictions, making cooperation among state police services and the federal police essential.
A decentralised system would therefore require effective communication, coordinated operations and clear procedures for investigations involving multiple states.
Public confidence will also depend on whether the proposed reform produces measurable improvements in safety, accountability and access to justice.
For residents of communities affected by repeated attacks, the central question is whether a new policing structure will provide faster responses, prevent violence and protect lives and property.
The achievement of the constitutional threshold represents progress in the legislative process, but establishing an effective system will require more than the passage of an amendment.
The authorities must complete the constitutional process, enact the necessary implementing legislation and establish institutions capable of ensuring professional conduct and accountability.
As Nigeria moves towards a possible dual policing system, the challenge will be to balance local responsiveness with national coordination, political neutrality and respect for citizens’ rights.
Whether state police will significantly improve security will ultimately depend on how the system is designed, funded, supervised and implemented.
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