The Nigerian Senate has passed a landmark constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police, marking a significant step toward overhauling Nigeria’s policing system to address growing security challenges across the country.
The proposed legislation would create a dual policing structure, allowing both the Federal Police Service and State Police Services to operate simultaneously. Under the bill, each state would have its own police service headed by a Commissioner of Police appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state’s House of Assembly.
Supporters of the reform say decentralising the police will improve intelligence gathering, enhance community policing, and enable faster responses to crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism. They argue that state-controlled police forces will be better positioned to understand and respond to local security threats.
However, the proposal has also generated debate, with critics warning that state police could be vulnerable to political interference and abuse by state governments. Proponents maintain that the bill contains oversight mechanisms designed to safeguard against such misuse.
Despite the Senate’s approval, the bill has not yet become law. As a constitutional amendment, it must still receive the endorsement of at least two-thirds of the country’s 36 State Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted for presidential assent.
If eventually enacted, the legislation would represent one of the most far-reaching reforms of Nigeria’s policing system since the country’s return to democratic rule, potentially reshaping how law enforcement is managed across the federation.
