President Bola Tinubu has taken a major step toward the creation of state police by sending a constitutional amendment bill to the House of Representatives for consideration.
The proposed legislation, titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for establishing state police services across the country.
In a letter read during Tuesday’s plenary session, President Tinubu said the bill is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture by introducing a dual policing system, where both the Federal Government and state governments would operate separate police services.
According to the President, the proposal builds on previous legislative efforts by the House of Representatives and includes additional safeguards to ensure the new policing structure operates effectively.
Tinubu explained that the bill is aimed at addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges by creating a more responsive and efficient policing system capable of tackling crime at the state level.
Describing the proposal as a key part of his administration’s security reform agenda, the President urged lawmakers to give the bill speedy consideration and approval.
The latest development comes just weeks after the Senate approved a similar constitutional amendment bill establishing state police, with the proposal receiving the required support of more than two-thirds of senators.
If the House of Representatives also passes the bill and it receives approval from the required number of State Houses of Assembly, Nigeria will move closer to establishing state-controlled police services as part of efforts to improve security nationwide.
The proposed reform has remained one of the country’s most debated security issues, with supporters arguing that state police would improve local security responses, while critics have raised concerns about possible political abuse.
Source: House of Representatives.
