Senate Moves to Legalise State Police Amid Worsening Insecurity

 By Kehinde Awosina 




The Senate has intensified efforts to amend Nigeria’s Constitution to allow the creation of state police, citing the worsening security situation across the country, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other violent crimes. The move is part of a broader push to decentralise policing and improve security responses at the state level.


The renewed drive follows repeated calls by Bola Ahmed Tinubu for lawmakers to amend the Constitution and provide a legal framework for state police. The President argued that the current security challenges require a more localised approach to law enforcement and protection of communities.


According to Senate leaders, work on the constitutional amendment process has already commenced, with lawmakers reviewing proposals and stakeholder submissions on the structure, operations and oversight of state police formations. The Senate has also assured Nigerians that safeguards will be included to prevent political abuse of the proposed security outfits.


Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, recently stated that the upper chamber is committed to completing the constitutional amendment process before the end of 2026. He noted that consultations held across the country have provided lawmakers with valuable input on the proposal.


The push gained further momentum after the submission of a comprehensive framework on state policing by the Nigeria Police Force to the National Assembly. The document outlines operational guidelines, governance structures and mechanisms for coordination between federal and state police formations if the proposal eventually becomes law.


Supporters of state police argue that governors and local authorities are better positioned to respond quickly to security threats within their jurisdictions. However, critics have raised concerns about funding, accountability and the possibility of governors using state-controlled police forces for political purposes.


If approved, the proposal would require a constitutional amendment backed by two-thirds of the National Assembly and ratification by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before it can take effect.


The debate over state police has become increasingly prominent as Nigeria continues to grapple with security challenges in several parts of the country, prompting calls for reforms to the nation’s policing architecture.


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