Nigeria: Insecurity - As 30 State Houses of Assembly Okay State Police...

What the report says

Nigeria’s long-running push for state police has advanced after 30 State Houses of Assembly backed the constitutional amendment needed to allow states to create their own police services, according to a report by This Day carried by AllAfrica. The development was announced by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and marks a major step in plans to decentralise policing in a country facing banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence.

The report says the constitutional change and a separate National Policing Bill are both needed before any state can begin operating its own police force. The amendment would provide the legal basis, while the bill would set out recruitment, training, funding, oversight and other operating rules. Under the current process, the Senate passed the bill in June 2026, the House of Representatives approved it in July, and it was then sent to state assemblies for consideration.

The article notes that Nigeria’s constitution requires approval from at least 24 of the 36 states, a threshold already met before the count reached 30. Bamidele said the National Assembly aims to complete remaining steps and forward the amendment to President Bola Tinubu by December 2026. Supporters argue state police could respond better to local security needs, while critics warn about political abuse, funding gaps and the need for strong safeguards.