ASABA: The Delta State House of Assembly has approved a proposed constitutional amendment to pave the way for the establishment of state police in Nigeria, with all 23 lawmakers present voting in favour of the measure.
The resolution was adopted during plenary on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as the lawmakers considered the proposed Sixth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution, which seeks to enable decentralised policing across the country.
The Speaker of the House, Emomotimi Guwor, presided over the session, while the House Leader led deliberations on the proposal.
Following the vote, Guwor described the decision as an important step towards developing a policing system capable of responding more effectively to security challenges within local communities.
He said the proposed reform could strengthen the protection of lives and property, sustain peace and create a safer environment for investment and development in Delta State.
The Speaker added that the Assembly’s position aligned with the MORE Agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration.
Following the approval, Guwor directed the Clerk of the Delta State House of Assembly to formally communicate the resolution to the National Assembly for further legislative action.
The proposed constitutional reform is intended to provide the legal framework for state governments to establish and operate their own police services alongside the existing federal police structure, subject to the necessary constitutional amendments.
The approval represents Delta State’s support for the proposed decentralisation of policing responsibilities, amid continuing national discussions about how best to address insecurity.
Supporters of state police argue that decentralising law enforcement could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-based security and enable quicker responses to threats, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
Advocates also maintain that state-controlled police formations could help authorities respond more effectively to security concerns peculiar to individual states and communities.
However, the establishment of state police would require appropriate constitutional provisions and safeguards governing their operations, accountability and relationship with federal security institutions.
Delta’s decision comes as the Federal Government advances plans towards establishing a framework for state policing.
Last Thursday, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed that the proposed National Policing Bill was approximately 90 per cent ready for transmission to the National Assembly.
Gbajabiamila made the disclosure after a meeting of the Presidential Working Group at the State House in Abuja, according to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
The proposed legislation and constitutional amendment form part of ongoing efforts to determine the legal and institutional framework for decentralised policing in Nigeria.
Although the Delta Assembly has endorsed the proposal, further constitutional and legislative processes will be required before state police can be formally established and operationalised.
The development adds Delta State to the growing national debate over policing reforms and the search for more effective approaches to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
