President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and tackle rising insecurity across the country.
The proposed legislation was conveyed to the upper chamber in a communication dated June 15, 2026, and read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
According to the President, the bill seeks to provide the constitutional framework for a dual policing system that would allow states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
Tinubu said the proposal is aimed at enhancing security and improving the protection of lives and property through greater community participation in policing.
Following the presentation, the Senate referred the bill to its Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative consideration and directed the panel to report back to the chamber on Wednesday.
Speaking on the proposal, Akpabio described community-based policing as a critical component of effective security management, noting that local authorities are often better positioned to identify threats within their communities.
“You will know when foreigners infiltrate Nigeria and alert security agencies so they can react proactively rather than reactively,” he said.
The Senate President explained that the proposed state police structure would be implemented through constitutional amendments and supporting legislation, with safeguards to ensure accountability and prevent abuse.
“We will do it in two phases through alteration and an Act of Parliament. There will be a lot of safeguards; let us come and do this important task,” Akpabio stated.
He also appealed to senators to attend the next sitting, stressing that constitutional amendments require the support of at least two-thirds of lawmakers.
“The issue of state police is non-partisan and cuts across geopolitical zones and interests,” he added.
The development comes barely two weeks after the Senate passed an executive bill on state police for second reading. Akpabio said the latest Constitution Alteration Bill transmitted by the President builds on the earlier proposal and is intended to provide the constitutional backing required for the establishment of state police services across the country.
The move is expected to reignite national debate on state policing, a proposal that has attracted support from advocates who believe it will improve security at the grassroots level, as well as concerns from critics who fear possible political interference by state governments.
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