Nigeria’s long-running debate over state police has reached a significant turning point, with 24 state Houses of Assembly endorsing a proposed constitutional amendment that could fundamentally reshape how security is managed across the country.
The endorsement means the bill has secured the support of the minimum number of state legislatures required to satisfy the constitutional threshold for an amendment, potentially bringing Nigeria closer to a policing system in which state governments would have their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly must approve a constitutional amendment of this nature. With 24 states now backing the proposal, the bill has met that requirement.
However, the development does not mean state police are already operational. The amendment must still proceed through the remaining constitutional and legislative steps, including transmission to the President for assent, as outlined in the amendment process.
The milestone comes amid persistent concerns over insecurity, including kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes that have placed pressure on Nigeria’s existing security architecture.
For supporters of state police, the development represents an opportunity to bring policing closer to the communities where crimes occur. For critics, however, the prospect raises difficult questions about political interference, accountability and the possibility of state security agencies being used against political opponents.
24 States Back State Police Proposal
The states whose Houses of Assembly have endorsed the bill are Adamawa, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba and Zamfara.
The other states are Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Abia, Yobe and Kaduna.
Together, the 24 states meet the two-thirds threshold required for the proposed constitutional amendment.
Meanwhile, the remaining 12 states whose legislatures are yet to vote on the bill are Lagos, Ondo, Ebonyi, Kogi, Niger, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano and Sokoto.
Further deliberations are expected in some of the outstanding assemblies next week, although the bill has already reached the required number of approvals.
How State Police Became a Major National Question
For years, the question of whether Nigeria should decentralise its police structure has generated intense debate among politicians, security experts, constitutional lawyers and civil society groups.
At the centre of the argument is the country’s current policing arrangement, in which the Nigeria Police Force operates as a national institution rather than a collection of separate state police services.
Proponents of reform argue that a centralised system may struggle to respond adequately to security challenges spread across a country as large and diverse as Nigeria.
They contend that state police officers, operating closer to local communities, could develop stronger intelligence networks, understand local security dynamics and respond more quickly to emerging threats.
Such an arrangement, advocates argue, could improve efforts to combat kidnapping, banditry and other crimes by enabling state authorities to deploy personnel according to the specific security needs of their communities.
Yet the proposal also presents a difficult question: would bringing policing closer to the people necessarily make it more effective, or could it create new avenues for political control and abuse?
The Controversy: Who Would Control State Police?
The push for state police has never been solely about where officers would be stationed. It is also about who would command them, how they would be held accountable and what safeguards would prevent their misuse.
Critics of decentralised policing have repeatedly raised concerns about the potential for governors and other powerful political actors to influence state police operations.
In states where political competition is intense, opponents worry that local police formations could be deployed to intimidate opposition figures, suppress protests or influence electoral contests.
There are also concerns about differences in funding, training, equipment and professional standards between states. Wealthier states could potentially build stronger police institutions than states with fewer financial resources, creating disparities in policing capacity.
Supporters of the reform, however, maintain that such risks should be addressed through constitutional safeguards, independent oversight, clear operational guidelines and mechanisms for investigating abuses rather than by abandoning the proposal altogether.
The challenge, therefore, is not simply to establish state police but to design a system capable of improving security without undermining civil liberties or democratic accountability.
What Happens Next?
The proposed amendment was transmitted by the National Assembly to the 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026, under the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.
The state legislatures were asked to consider the proposal and provide the concurrence required for the constitutional amendment process.
With 24 states now having endorsed the bill, the constitutional approval threshold has been met. The proposal can therefore advance to the next stage, subject to the completion of the required formalities.
The President’s assent remains a key part of the process before the amendment can take effect. Any eventual implementation would also depend on the final constitutional provisions and the legal and administrative arrangements established to support the new policing structure.
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The expected conclusion of deliberations in the remaining states could provide a clearer picture of the broader political support for the reform, even though the required two-thirds threshold has already been reached.
A Potential Turning Point, But Not Yet a Security Solution
The endorsement by 24 state legislatures marks an important development in Nigeria’s search for a more responsive security system. It also moves the debate beyond political promises and closer to a possible constitutional change.
But the real test will come after the legislative process.
State police would not automatically eliminate kidnapping, banditry or violent crime. Their effectiveness would depend on adequate funding, professional training, intelligence coordination, respect for human rights and safeguards against political interference.
Nigeria must also determine how state police would work alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force, particularly in intelligence sharing, investigations and operations involving criminals who cross state boundaries.
Ultimately, the central question is no longer simply whether Nigeria should have state police. With the constitutional threshold now met, attention is increasingly shifting towards what powers state police would possess, who would supervise them and how the country would prevent a reform designed to improve public safety from becoming another instrument of political power.
For millions of Nigerians seeking greater security, the endorsement offers a reason to watch the next stage closely. Whether it becomes a lasting solution or creates a new set of challenges will depend on the details of the final law and how effectively it is implemented.