President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police across Nigeria, a move aimed at strengthening the country’s security framework and enhancing community-based policing.
The proposed legislation, titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026, seeks to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to provide the legal foundation for the creation of state-controlled police forces.
The bill was presented during Tuesday’s plenary session after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read President Tinubu’s communication to lawmakers.
Speaking on the development, Akpabio described the bill as a historic and transformative initiative that could significantly improve security and promote stronger collaboration between communities and law enforcement agencies.
According to him, residents are often better positioned to identify suspicious movements and criminal elements within their localities, making state police an effective tool for intelligence gathering and rapid response to security threats.
“This is an epoch-making legislation that can significantly address insecurity and encourage broader participation of communities in maintaining public safety,” Akpabio stated.
He disclosed that state governments have already indicated their readiness to implement the policy once the constitutional amendment process is concluded.
The Senate President commended lawmakers for returning from their annual recess to deliberate on the state police proposal and other constitutional amendment bills. He noted that copies of the Constitution Review Committee’s report had already been circulated to senators for proper study.
Akpabio also praised members of the Constitution Review Committee, saying the proposal was the product of nearly two years of extensive consultations and deliberations.
He directed the committee to resubmit its report on Wednesday, emphasizing the Senate’s determination to expedite action on the bill before lawmakers proceed on their annual break.
Meanwhile, the Senate suspended further debate on the state police bill following the announcement of the death of Hon. Yaya Tongo, who represented the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State in the House of Representatives.
Akpabio expressed condolences to the family, constituents and associates of the late lawmaker, praying for strength and comfort for those affected by the loss.
Senators thereafter observed a minute’s silence in honour of the deceased.
The renewed push for state police comes amid growing concerns over insecurity across the country, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal clashes. Advocates have long argued that decentralizing policing would enhance intelligence gathering and enable quicker responses to local security challenges.
If approved by the National Assembly and ratified by the required number of state Houses of Assembly, the constitutional amendment would mark a major shift in Nigeria’s policing structure and one of the most significant reforms to the nation’s security architecture in decades.
