By By Elizabeth Ugbo
President Bola Tinubu has sent a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate seeking the creation of state police in Nigeria. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the proposal during plenary on Tuesday in Abuja. The bill aims to reform Nigeria’s security architecture by establishing a dual policing system. Under the arrangement, states will operate their own police services alongside the federal police. The move seeks to improve security and strengthen community-based policing across the country.
Senate Begins Consideration of State Police Proposal
The proposed legislation was contained in a communication dated June 15, 2026. Akpabio informed senators that the bill builds on an earlier executive proposal.
The latest development comes barely two weeks after the Senate passed an executive bill on state police for second reading. According to Akpabio, the new bill will provide the constitutional foundation required for the establishment of state police services.
He subsequently referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review. The committee is expected to submit its report on Wednesday.
Lawmakers Urged to Support Constitutional Amendment
Akpabio urged senators to attend the next sitting because of the importance of the proposal.
He stressed that constitutional amendments require the support of at least two-thirds of lawmakers.
“The issue of state police is non-partisan and cuts across geopolitical zones and interests,” he said.
The Senate President expressed confidence that lawmakers would support the initiative for the benefit of national security.
Community-Based Policing at the Core of Reform
Akpabio stated that the proposed amendment would give communities, municipalities, and local governments greater roles in security management.
He explained that local authorities are often better positioned to identify suspicious activities and provide timely intelligence to security agencies.
According to him, stronger local participation would enable security agencies to respond proactively to emerging threats.
“You will know when foreigners infiltrate Nigeria and alert security agencies so they can react proactively rather than reactively,” he said.
Implementation to Follow a Phased Approach
Akpabio explained that the implementation process would take place in phases.
He said the government would first secure constitutional amendments before introducing supporting legislation through an Act of Parliament.
“We will do it in two phases through alteration and an Act of Parliament. There will be a lot of safeguards,” he stated.
He added that the planned safeguards would ensure accountability and prevent abuse of the proposed state police structure.
State Police Bill Aims to Strengthen Security Nationwide
The proposed legislation seeks to create a legal framework for a dual policing system in Nigeria. If approved, states will gain the authority to establish and manage their own police services while the federal police continue to operate nationwide.
The proposal forms part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to address security challenges and improve public safety across the country.
