Nigeria: State Police - Tinubu Scales Constitutional Hurdles

What the report says

Nigeria’s long-discussed push to create state police appears to have cleared a major constitutional step, with the National Assembly preparing to send the State Police Bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent. According to Vanguard, quoted by AllAfrica, lawmakers are expected to transmit the measure between now and next week after receiving enough approvals from state legislatures.

The report says at least 30 of Nigeria’s 36 state houses of assembly have approved the constitutional amendment, surpassing the two-thirds threshold of 24 states required under Section 9 of the constitution. The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the legislature had verified reports from 28 state assemblies and confirmed their votes and proceedings. The bill was originally sent to state lawmakers on September 16, 2026, for consideration.

If signed into law, the amendment would allow the establishment of state police services alongside the federal police structure, a reform advocates say could improve local security responses. The article also notes that the presidency has asked the organised private sector to help develop a financing and implementation plan, reflecting broader concerns about how the system would be funded and managed.

The story adds that former police chief Mike Okiro has urged safeguards to prevent abuse by governors and said state funding and training arrangements would be essential. More broadly, the debate reflects Nigeria’s continuing search for more effective policing amid persistent insecurity and pressure to decentralise security responsibilities.