President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the House of Representatives seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of state police across Nigeria.
The proposed legislation, titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, was conveyed in a letter dated June 15, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
The letter, read during Tuesday’s plenary, urged lawmakers to give the bill expedited consideration, describing it as a key component of the administration’s efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.
According to President Tinubu, the proposed amendment is designed to create a constitutional basis for the establishment of state police services as part of measures to tackle the country’s growing security challenges.
He said the bill builds on previous work carried out by the House of Representatives on the issue while introducing additional safeguards to ensure the effective operation of a dual policing system.
The President expressed confidence that the proposed legislation would strengthen the country’s security framework and improve efforts to protect lives and property.
Nigeria currently operates a centrally controlled policing system under the Nigeria Police Force as provided by the 1999 Constitution. However, increasing cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other crimes have intensified calls for the decentralisation of policing.
Several states have established regional security outfits, including Amotekun in the South-West and Ebube Agu in parts of the South-East, to complement federal security agencies.
While supporters of state police argue that decentralised policing would enhance intelligence gathering, improve response times and strengthen community policing, critics have raised concerns that state-controlled police could be abused by governors for political purposes.
The proposal is expected to generate fresh debate in the National Assembly over the structure, funding, oversight and operational safeguards of state police.
For the bill to become law, it must secure the approval of two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly and be ratified by at least 24 of the country’s 36 state Houses of Assembly before receiving presidential assent.
