Nigeria moves closer to state police as Senate passes key amendment amid worsening insecurity

The Senate on Wednesday finally passed a constitutional amendment bill to establish State Police nationwide, marking Nigeria’s most significant shift in security architecture since the 1999 Constitution.

The legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Provide for the Establishment of State Police; and for Related Matters (Sixth Alteration)”, was approved at the Committee of the Whole under Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The Executive Bill was transmitted to the National Assembly on Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu, who requested accelerated consideration. The Senate granted first, second and third readings during Wednesday’s plenary.

Voting followed a presentation of the bill’s general principles by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central, who urged colleagues to back the reform as a response to Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

When the electronic voting system failed, senators resorted to a manual count. Lawmakers stood and raised their hands, and a majority of the 109-member chamber voted in favour of the amendment.

Leading the debate, Bamidele described the bill as one of the most consequential constitutional reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history, saying it addresses long-standing concerns about the structure, effectiveness and responsiveness of policing.

He recalled that the 1999 Constitution created a single, centrally controlled Nigeria Police Force. While that model served the country at independence, Bamidele argued that it is now inadequate for contemporary threats.

Nigeria’s size and diversity, he noted, make centralized policing unsustainable. With 36 states, the FCT, and varied cultures, languages, terrains and socio-economic realities, a one-size-fits-all approach can no longer deliver optimal results.

The Senate Leader listed the security pressures driving the reform: terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, farmer-herder clashes, cybercrime, organized crime networks and other transnational crimes.

Under the current structure, Bamidele said local authorities lack the capacity to respond swiftly to threats in their jurisdictions. This deficit, he added, has created a national consensus among state governments, traditional institutions, civil society and security experts on decentralizing policing.

“The bill’s core objective is to create a constitutional framework for State Police Services while retaining a strong Federal Police Service, with national standards, accountability and oversight.

“It proposes a Federal Police Service for federal responsibilities, State Police Services for states that choose to create them, independent State Police Service Commissions, and safeguards against abuse and political manipulation,” he said.

No State Police Service can begin operations, Bamidele stressed, until it is established by state law and certified as meeting minimum standards prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. This, he said, ensures professionalism and uniformity.

“The Federal Police Service will retain jurisdiction over federal institutions, the FCT, counter-terrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, border security, arms trafficking, inter-state crimes and other national security matters. State Police will enforce state laws, maintain public order and protect lives and property locally.

“To prevent misuse, the bill prohibits governors from directing state police to target individuals, parties or groups unlawfully. It also bans the use of police powers for partisan, ethnic, religious or personal purposes.

“The National Assembly will set minimum standards for recruitment, training, vetting, promotions, discipline, use of force, firearms, complaints, accountability, data management and conduct. Federal intervention will be allowed only in exceptional cases, with presidential authorization, Senate oversight and judicial review,” the Senate Leader stressed.

Contributing, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) said Nigeria needs innovative solutions but must embed strong funding and oversight guarantees to keep state police professional and independent.

Senator Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South) backed the bill as a step toward true federalism but urged robust safeguards against future abuse and rights violations, while Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North) cited existing community security structures as proof of the need for formal state policing.

Senate President Akpabio said the presence of key government officials at the proceedings underscored the bill’s importance and reflected transparency. He described the amendment as a response to growing demands for sustainable security solutions.

The passage was witnessed by Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Uba Sani of Kaduna and Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; NGF Director-General AbdulLateef Shittu; and several state attorneys-general.