CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Nigeria is on the verge of creating State Police, more than six decades after the regional police system was abolished.
The Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, has now secured the approval of 24 State Houses of Assembly, meeting the two-thirds threshold required to amend the 1999 Constitution and establish a dual policing system in Nigeria.
The Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, October 23, 2026.
Gbajabiamila said with 24 states concurring, the amendment has satisfied Section 9 of the Constitution and will now be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Why State Police Matters Now
Nigeria has operated a single federal police structure since 1960. With over 230 million people and rising cases of banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes and separatist agitations, many stakeholders have argued that the centralized system is overstretched and ineffective at the grassroots.
Governors have repeatedly complained that as Chief Security Officers of their states, they have no control over Commissioners of Police deployed from Abuja. In many cases, police commissioners reportedly take directives from the Inspector-General of Police, not the governor.
The new bill seeks to correct that by creating two layers: the Federal Police Service to handle federal offences, interstate crimes and national security, and State Police Services to be controlled by state governments for local policing and community security.
What the Draft Bill Proposes
According to the Presidential Working Group, the accompanying National Policing Bill, 2026, is currently undergoing legislative review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry is expected to return the validated drafts on or before Friday, October 30, 2026, for final transmission to the National Assembly.
The draft proposes clear delineation of powers, funding mechanisms, recruitment standards, oversight by both federal and state police service commissions, and safeguards against political abuse.
It also provides that state police officers will not have powers over federal offences and will be prohibited from being deployed for political purposes, including elections, without federal authorization.
24 States Cross the Line
While the Presidency has not published the full list of the 24 assenting states, sources said the South-West, South-South, South-East, North-Central and parts of North-West have voted in favour.
The approval by 24 states is significant because constitution amendment in Nigeria requires at least 24 out of 36 states. It is the first time a policing amendment has gone this far since the return to democracy in 1999.
Previous attempts in 2018 and 2021 failed to get state support due to fears of abuse by governors.
Fears of Abuse and Safeguards
Critics of state police have warned that governors could use state-controlled police to harass opposition, rig elections and settle political scores.
To address this, the draft bill includes provisions for independent police service commissions, federal oversight on arms and training, and a clause that allows the Federal Government to take over a state police command if there is evidence of gross abuse or breakdown of law and order.
Security experts also say state police will only work if properly funded, professionally trained and insulated from politics.
What Happens Next?
With the constitutional threshold met, the amendment will be sent back to the National Assembly for formal transmission to President Tinubu for assent.
Once signed, the National Assembly will pass the National Policing Bill, which will provide the operational framework, including recruitment, funding, command structure and relationship between federal and state police.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, who is a member of the Working Group, has assured that the Nigeria Police Force will support the transition and ensure a smooth implementation.
For millions of Nigerians facing insecurity daily, the approval by 24 states offers hope that help may finally be closer to home.