Nigeria’s long-running proposal to establish state police has encountered a significant legislative obstacle, with only five of the country’s 36 state Houses of Assembly reported to have approved the constitutional amendment by October 15, 2026, despite a 30-day window for state legislatures to consider the proposal.
The assemblies in Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara were the five reported to have approved the amendment, leaving the proposal well short of the 24 state approvals required under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution for a constitutional alteration to proceed. The National Assembly transmitted the constitutional amendment bill to state legislatures on September 16, following its passage through both chambers. The 30-day period ended on October 16. <Cite refs={["turn468109search0","turn468109search5","turn468109search10"]} />
The slow progress has raised questions about whether Nigeria’s political institutions can reach the level of agreement needed to restructure the country’s policing system, particularly as insecurity remains a central concern for communities across different regions.
The development comes as the Presidency advances a separate legislative process intended to establish a national framework for policing reform. On October 15, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila said the proposed National Policing Bill was approximately 90 per cent ready for transmission to the National Assembly and could be submitted within two weeks, following further consultations with governors and other stakeholders. <Cite refs={["turn468109view0","turn468109search6"]} />
The two processes are related but distinct. The constitutional amendment seeks to provide the constitutional foundation for state police, while the separate National Policing Bill is intended to establish a broader legal framework for policing. Neither the preparations reportedly undertaken by individual states nor the Presidency’s progress on the bill means that state police forces have already been legally established.
The immediate question is whether the constitutional amendment can secure the necessary state-level approvals and how lawmakers will address concerns about funding, accountability, operational independence and the potential use of security institutions for political purposes.
The five states that approved the proposal
The five states reported to have approved the state-police constitutional amendment by October 15 were Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara.
Their approvals represented an important step for advocates of decentralised policing, but they were insufficient to meet the constitutional threshold. At least 24 of Nigeria’s 36 state assemblies must approve a constitutional alteration before it can proceed through the remaining constitutional process. <Cite refs={["turn468109search0","turn468109search5"]} />
The remaining 31 assemblies had not been reported as having approved the amendment by the stated deadline. Reports indicated that some legislatures were still studying the proposal, consulting stakeholders or had yet to begin formal deliberations.
That distinction matters because a state assembly that has not approved a proposal should not automatically be described as having rejected it. A legislature may be undecided, still examining the text or considering the financial and administrative consequences of the proposed reform.
Nevertheless, the limited number of approvals points to a serious coordination challenge for a proposal that has attracted national attention over several years.
State police would represent a major change to Nigeria’s security architecture. It would require decisions about the relationship between federal and state authorities, the recruitment and training of officers, the financing of police operations and the mechanisms through which abuses could be investigated.
The reform would also raise questions about how to prevent competing security structures from creating confusion over operational responsibility.
These are substantial policy issues, and state assemblies have a constitutional role in considering the proposed alteration. Their decisions are not merely procedural endorsements; they form part of the legal process for changing the Constitution.
The next stage will depend on the formal position of each legislature and the steps taken by the National Assembly and other relevant institutions following the expiry of the initial 30-day period.
How the constitutional amendment reached the states
The proposal advanced through the National Assembly before being sent to the state legislatures for consideration.
The Senate passed the state-police amendment on June 24, 2026, while the House of Representatives passed it on July 23. The National Assembly subsequently transmitted the constitutional alteration bill to the 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16. <Cite refs={["turn468109search0","turn468109search5"]} />
The transmission marked the next stage in the constitutional alteration process.
Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional alteration generally requires approval by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly. With 36 states, that means at least 24 state legislatures must concur with the proposed amendment before it can proceed.
The process is designed to ensure that constitutional changes involving the structure of the federation receive support beyond the federal legislature alone.
This requirement is particularly relevant to state policing because the proposal concerns the distribution of governmental powers and responsibilities between the federal and state levels.
Passing a bill in Abuja does not by itself complete a constitutional amendment. The required state approvals must also be secured, and the subsequent constitutional steps must be completed before the change becomes part of the Constitution.
The state-police proposal therefore remains subject to a more demanding process than an ordinary federal bill.
The October 16 deadline concentrated attention on how quickly state assemblies could consider the proposal. But the available reports do not establish that all 31 assemblies that had not approved it by October 15 had formally rejected the amendment.
Any further progress will depend on verified decisions by the relevant legislatures and the constitutional procedure applicable to the bill.
Why the deadline matters
The 30-day period established for the state legislatures to consider the transmitted amendment expired on October 16, according to reports on the legislative process.
By the time the deadline approached, only five state assemblies had reportedly approved the proposal. The shortfall highlighted the gap between political support for the idea of decentralised policing and the formal approvals required to implement it. <Cite refs={["turn468109search0","turn468109search1"]} />
The expiry of the stated period should not be confused with proof that the proposal has been permanently abandoned or that every state assembly has rejected it. The available reports establish that the deadline elapsed without the required number of approvals; they do not, on their own, settle every possible procedural question about subsequent legislative action.
The formal consequences of the deadline, including any further action by the National Assembly, need to be established through official statements and the relevant constitutional procedure.
What is clear is that the proposal cannot be treated as having secured the necessary state-level backing on the basis of the five approvals reported by October 15.
The shortfall also illustrates the practical difficulty of coordinating 36 separate state legislatures on a nationally significant reform.
Each assembly has its own legislative calendar, political relationships, consultation processes and priorities. Even where the general objective attracts support, disagreements may emerge over the details of implementation.
The question facing the proponents of state police is therefore not simply whether the idea is popular, but whether the institutions responsible for approving it can agree on a workable constitutional and legal framework.
The Presidency says a separate policing bill is nearly ready
While the constitutional amendment faces a shortfall in state approvals, the Presidency is continuing work on a separate National Policing Bill.
Gbajabiamila announced on October 15 that the bill was approximately 90 per cent ready for transmission to the National Assembly. He said the Presidential Working Group would likely hold another meeting to finalise outstanding details and address observations from governors. The government said the bill could be transmitted within two weeks. <Cite refs={["turn468109view0","turn468109search6"]} />
The working group includes representatives of government and law-enforcement institutions. The State House said participants at the October 15 steering committee meeting included the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu.
Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Nigeria Police reform structure and other relevant institutions also participated. <Cite refs={["turn468109view0"]} />
The consultations indicate that the administration is working on a broader framework for policing reform alongside the constitutional amendment.
However, the statement that the bill was 90 per cent ready was an assessment made by the Presidential Working Group. It was not a declaration that the bill had been transmitted, passed by the National Assembly or signed into law.
The Presidency’s stated timetable was for submission within two weeks of the October 15 announcement. Whether that timetable was met would require subsequent confirmation.
The distinction is important because legislative drafting, formal transmission, passage by the legislature and presidential assent are separate stages. Each stage involves different decisions and procedures.
For the public, the central issue is whether the proposed framework will answer practical questions about the powers of federal and state policing institutions, the standards officers must meet and the mechanisms available when officers or commanders abuse their authority.
A bill may be described as nearly complete, but its final provisions and legislative fate must be assessed from the text and subsequent official decisions.
Why state police has remained a national debate
The debate over state police is rooted in questions about whether a policing structure organised predominantly at the federal level can respond effectively to the different security conditions across Nigeria.
The country faces a range of security challenges, including kidnapping, armed attacks, communal violence, organised crime and threats affecting rural and urban communities. The nature of these threats varies by location, and local authorities often argue that security responses need a stronger understanding of the communities they serve.
Supporters of state police say state-level services could improve local intelligence, shorten response times and allow policing priorities to be tailored more closely to local circumstances.
They argue that state authorities may be better positioned to identify recurring security problems in particular communities and coordinate preventive measures with local institutions.
Advocates also contend that decentralisation could reduce the burden on the federal police structure by giving states a defined role in addressing local security concerns.
These arguments have helped keep the proposal in public discussion, particularly as residents and political leaders demand more effective protection against crime and violence.
However, decentralisation alone would not guarantee improved security. The effectiveness of any new arrangement would depend on recruitment standards, professional training, intelligence coordination, operational discipline, access to equipment and the willingness of authorities to investigate wrongdoing.
A poorly designed state police system could reproduce existing weaknesses at a different level of government. It could also create new problems if federal and state forces operate without clear divisions of responsibility.
The reform therefore requires careful attention to both the potential advantages and the risks.
The limited number of approvals by the October deadline suggests that the constitutional process has not yet produced the level of agreement needed to move the proposal forward.
Supporters argue that local policing could improve responses
One of the principal arguments for state police is that security threats often require detailed knowledge of local conditions.
Communities differ in geography, population distribution, transport links, economic activity and the nature of the risks they face. Supporters believe state-level police services could be organised to reflect these differences and work more closely with local institutions.
For example, a rural community facing recurring attacks may require a different deployment pattern from a densely populated urban area dealing with robbery, organised crime or traffic-related offences.
State-level institutions could potentially develop specialist teams and operational priorities suited to these local needs.
Supporters also argue that a more localised structure might make it easier for residents to communicate information about suspicious activity, emerging threats and recurring criminal behaviour.
Closer contact between communities and law-enforcement personnel can be useful when residents trust the officers involved and believe that information will be handled responsibly.
However, these potential benefits depend on the quality of the institution. Officers must be properly trained, investigations must be conducted professionally, and residents must be protected from intimidation or discrimination.
Local knowledge cannot substitute for evidence-based investigations, lawful procedures and coordination with other security agencies.
A decentralised system would also need mechanisms for handling crimes that cross state boundaries. Organised criminal networks may operate across multiple jurisdictions, requiring intelligence-sharing and coordinated operations.
The proposed reform must therefore determine how state-level police would cooperate with the federal police and other relevant institutions.
The question is not simply whether policing should be local or national. It is how different levels of policing can operate together without creating gaps, duplication or conflicting orders.
Concerns about political interference
One of the most significant concerns surrounding state police is the possibility that political officeholders could use the institutions against opponents or critics.
Governors and other powerful state officials exercise considerable influence over political life within their jurisdictions. If a state police force were placed under inadequate safeguards, critics fear it could be used to intimidate opposition politicians, influence protests or interfere with electoral competition.
These concerns are particularly relevant as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
A policing structure must protect public safety without becoming an instrument for partisan advantage. That principle applies whether officers are employed by federal or state authorities.
The debate is therefore not only about which level of government should control policing, but also about the safeguards needed to prevent abuse.
Potential safeguards could include clear legal limits on executive directions, independent complaints procedures, transparent disciplinary processes, judicial oversight and professional standards governing the use of force.
Recruitment and promotion procedures would also need to be designed to reduce patronage and ensure that officers are selected and advanced on the basis of appropriate criteria.
Operational decisions should be guided by law and legitimate policing objectives rather than the political interests of individuals.
The Police Reform and Accountability Collaborative, in its October 8 discussion of the proposal, argued that the debate must address how state police would operate and how to prevent the replication of weaknesses associated with existing policing arrangements. <Cite refs={["turn468109search10"]} />
Such concerns do not, by themselves, establish that state police would necessarily be abused. They identify risks that lawmakers would need to address through legislation, oversight and institutional design.
A credible framework would need to demonstrate not merely that state governments can establish forces, but that those forces can operate professionally and remain accountable when their actions are challenged.
The challenge of funding new police services
Establishing and maintaining a police force requires sustained funding.
States considering the creation of police services would need to account for recruitment, salaries, training, uniforms, vehicles, communications equipment, stations, forensic capabilities, detention facilities and ongoing operational costs.
Additional expenses could include information systems, protective equipment, specialised units and the infrastructure required to investigate serious crimes.
The cost would not end with the initial recruitment or establishment of the force. Salaries, equipment maintenance, refresher training and operational expenses would continue year after year.
For states already balancing obligations to education, healthcare, infrastructure and other public services, the financing question is substantial.
A state may support decentralised policing in principle but still need to determine whether it can sustain the institution without weakening other essential services.
The financial framework would also need to address differences in states’ economic capacity. Some states may have stronger revenue bases than others, potentially creating disparities in staffing, equipment and operational reach.
If the quality of policing depended heavily on the resources available to individual states, residents could face different levels of protection depending on where they lived.
A national framework may therefore need to consider minimum standards, funding arrangements and ways to support states that lack sufficient resources to establish effective services.
These are policy questions that require detailed financial analysis rather than broad political assurances.
The available State House announcement of October 15 said the National Policing Bill was nearing completion but did not provide a complete public breakdown of its proposed financing arrangements. <Cite refs={["turn468109view0"]} />
Until the text and its financial implications are fully examined, the cost of establishing state police across the federation remains a key issue for lawmakers and the public.
What happens to the existing Nigeria Police Force?
Another central question is how state police would relate to the existing Nigeria Police Force.
Nigeria currently has a national police institution operating within a federal legal framework. A move towards state police would require clarity about which responsibilities remain national, which are assigned to state services and how the institutions cooperate.
Without clear rules, residents could be uncertain about which agency should respond to particular incidents or where complaints should be directed.
Jurisdictional disputes could also emerge if two services claim authority over the same matter or if a case crosses state boundaries.
The legal framework would need to define operational responsibilities, information-sharing procedures and the circumstances in which one service may request assistance from another.
It would also need to establish how officers from different institutions cooperate during joint operations and how command decisions are handled when their responsibilities overlap.
Serious and organised crimes may require coordination across multiple states or with national security institutions. A decentralised system would still need an effective mechanism for addressing those cases.
The proposed reform should therefore be evaluated as a restructuring of the wider policing system, rather than simply the creation of additional state agencies.
A successful arrangement would need to preserve national coordination where necessary while giving local institutions sufficient authority to address legitimate state-level needs.
Clear rules would also help prevent political disputes between federal and state authorities from disrupting security operations.
Recruitment, training and professional standards
The quality of a police institution depends heavily on the people recruited into it and the standards under which they operate.
If state police are established, recruitment would need to be based on transparent criteria, appropriate background checks and clear professional requirements.
Training would need to cover criminal investigation, evidence handling, lawful arrest, human rights, community relations, conflict management and the responsible use of force.
Officers would also need to understand the legal boundaries of their authority and the consequences of misconduct.
These requirements would be particularly important in a system where officers operate within political environments that may involve strong local rivalries.
Recruitment based on political loyalty rather than competence could weaken public trust and compromise operational independence.
A credible system would require clear standards for admission, training, promotion and disciplinary action. It would also need mechanisms for investigating allegations of misconduct and ensuring that complaints receive impartial consideration.
The same principles apply to leadership appointments. Commanders must be able to make operational decisions within the law without facing improper pressure from political actors.
Professional standards should be consistent enough to protect basic rights across the federation, even where states establish different operational priorities.
A national framework could provide common minimum requirements while allowing states to address local needs through lawful and transparent policies.
The detailed provisions of the National Policing Bill will therefore be important in assessing how the government intends to handle these questions.
Until the bill is formally published and considered, it would be premature to assume that every concern has been resolved.
Human rights and public accountability
Any police service exercises powers that can significantly affect people's freedom and safety. Its authority must therefore be accompanied by clear rules and effective accountability.
State police would need mechanisms for receiving complaints, investigating allegations of misconduct and providing remedies where wrongdoing is established.
These mechanisms should be accessible to ordinary residents, including people who may lack the resources to pursue complex legal proceedings.
Public confidence also depends on whether investigations are conducted independently and whether disciplinary decisions are applied consistently.
Where officers are accused of unlawful detention, excessive force, intimidation or other misconduct, the system must provide a credible process for establishing the facts.
An accountability structure that exists only on paper would not be sufficient. Its effectiveness would depend on whether complaints can be made safely, whether investigations are properly resourced and whether findings lead to appropriate action.
Independent oversight can help reduce the risk that police leadership or political officials control the outcome of complaints involving their own interests.
Judicial oversight and access to legal remedies are also important parts of a system governed by the rule of law.
These safeguards would not eliminate every instance of misconduct, but they could help create clearer standards and stronger incentives for lawful behaviour.
The proposal should therefore be judged not only by the powers it grants to state governments, but also by the protections it provides to residents.
The central purpose of policing is public safety. That purpose cannot be separated from the responsibility to protect the rights of the people whom officers are employed to serve.
Why the reform matters ahead of the 2027 elections
The proposed state-police reform is progressing against the backdrop of preparations for Nigeria's 2027 general elections.
Security agencies are expected to protect voters, candidates, electoral workers and members of the public during the campaign and voting periods. Their responsibilities include responding to violence, enforcing the law and helping ensure that people can participate in political activity without intimidation.
The possibility of state police raises questions about how security institutions would operate during politically sensitive periods.
If state-level forces were established, their independence and neutrality would be especially important in states where political competition is intense.
A police service must not be used to suppress lawful opposition, prevent peaceful campaigning or provide preferential treatment to a governing party.
The same standards should apply to federal policing institutions.
Clear operational rules, transparent deployment decisions and effective complaint mechanisms would help protect public confidence in the neutrality of law enforcement.
However, the current legislative shortfall does not establish that state police will or will not be available for the 2027 elections. The constitutional amendment has not secured the required state approvals in the reported figures, and the separate National Policing Bill was still being finalised as of the October 15 State House announcement.
The timeline for any implementation would depend on the subsequent legal and administrative process.
For now, the immediate electoral concern is that existing security institutions must operate professionally and within the law, regardless of the status of the proposed reform.
Longer term, the state-police debate will require lawmakers to consider how any new structure could protect public safety while maintaining political neutrality.
States reportedly preparing for possible state policing
Channels Television reported on October 19, citing an investigation published by Daily Sun, that several state governments were recruiting personnel, strengthening vigilance organisations or preparing administrative structures for possible state police services.
The report identified Kaduna, Plateau, Imo and Benue among states undertaking varying levels of preparation. <Cite refs={["turn468109view1"]} />
These reported preparations should not be confused with the legal establishment of state police forces.
A state government may strengthen community security arrangements or make preliminary administrative plans without possessing the constitutional authority to establish a separate police service under the proposed framework.
The distinction matters because informal or existing local security structures may operate under different legal rules from a formally established state police institution.
Any transition to a new system would require clarity about the legal status of personnel, the powers they may exercise, their training and the arrangements governing cooperation with existing security agencies.
The reports of preparation nevertheless suggest that some state governments are considering how they might respond if the constitutional and legislative processes permit state police to be established.
Such preparations may reflect the pressure on state governments to respond to residents’ security concerns.
But the practical value of any new arrangement will depend on its legal basis, resources, operational effectiveness and accountability.
States would need to avoid creating confusion by presenting preparatory activities as if a new police service had already been authorised.
The next stage should provide greater clarity about which preparations are administrative, which involve existing lawful security arrangements and which would require additional legislation or constitutional change.
The risks of uneven implementation
If state police are eventually established, one challenge will be ensuring that the quality of service does not vary excessively from one state to another.
Differences in revenue, infrastructure, training facilities and administrative capacity could affect how effectively states recruit and equip their officers.
A wealthier state may be able to invest more heavily in vehicles, communications, forensic equipment and specialist training. A state with fewer resources may struggle to maintain the same capabilities.
Such disparities could have implications for public safety and for the movement of criminal activity across state boundaries.
Criminal networks may exploit gaps between jurisdictions if coordination is weak or if some forces lack the capacity to investigate particular offences.
A national framework could help establish minimum standards for training, equipment, reporting and operational cooperation.
It could also provide mechanisms for sharing intelligence and coordinating investigations involving multiple states.
Funding arrangements would be important in determining whether states with limited resources could meet those standards.
The goal should be to create a system that responds to local conditions without leaving residents in less-resourced states with substantially weaker protections.
Any proposal for state police must therefore consider not only whether states have the authority to create forces, but also whether they can maintain professional institutions over time.
What lawmakers need to clarify
The state-police proposal raises a series of practical questions that lawmakers and the public will need to examine.
First, the legal framework must define the authority and responsibilities of state police in relation to the Nigeria Police Force and other security institutions.
Second, it must establish transparent recruitment and training standards, alongside procedures for promotion, discipline and the investigation of misconduct.
Third, it must explain how the new services will be funded and how minimum standards will be maintained across states with different economic capacities.
Fourth, the framework needs to address intelligence-sharing and joint operations, particularly where criminal activity crosses state boundaries.
Fifth, it must provide safeguards against political interference and ensure that officers remain accountable to the law.
Finally, the implementation process needs clear rules for the transition from the existing arrangement to any new structure, including the legal status of personnel and the powers available to them.
These are not merely technical details. They will determine whether decentralised policing improves public safety or creates additional institutional problems.
The National Policing Bill could provide an opportunity to address some of these questions, but its provisions must be examined in the form formally presented to the National Assembly.
The Presidency's October 15 statement indicated that the bill was close to completion, while also noting that governors had observations to be addressed. <Cite refs={["turn468109view0"]} />
The next significant development will therefore be the publication or formal transmission of the bill, followed by scrutiny of its contents and the response of lawmakers.
What citizens should watch next
The immediate development to watch is whether further state assemblies formally approve the constitutional amendment and whether the National Assembly clarifies the procedural consequences of the October 16 deadline.
The five approvals reported by October 15 were far below the 24 required. Any claim that the proposal has reached the constitutional threshold would need to be supported by verified decisions from additional state legislatures. <Cite refs={["turn468109search0","turn468109search5"]} />
Citizens should also watch for the formal submission of the National Policing Bill and the details it contains about command structures, funding, recruitment, accountability and the relationship between state and federal forces.
Statements about the bill's readiness should be distinguished from its actual submission and passage.
Another important development will be the position of governors and state legislatures that have not yet approved the constitutional amendment. Public statements may help explain their concerns, but formal legislative records will be necessary to establish their decisions.
The public should also watch for consultation with civil society groups, legal experts, security professionals and communities that could be affected by the reform.
Such engagement can help identify risks before a new system is implemented and provide a basis for evaluating whether the proposed safeguards are adequate.
Finally, the government and lawmakers will need to explain how the reform would be implemented in practice, including the resources required and the timeline for any transition.
These are the issues that will determine whether the proposal advances beyond political declarations.
Conclusion
Nigeria's proposed state-police reform has reached a critical point, with only five state assemblies reported to have approved the constitutional amendment by October 15, against the 24 required to advance a constitutional alteration.
The deadline for state legislatures to consider the bill expired on October 16, leaving the proposal far short of the required threshold in the reported figures. The shortfall highlights the difficulty of translating broad discussions about security reform into the formal approvals required under the Constitution.
At the same time, the Presidency says a separate National Policing Bill is approximately 90 per cent ready for submission to the National Assembly. That process could provide an important opportunity to clarify the proposed structure, powers and safeguards of a reformed policing system, but the bill's formal submission and legislative progress remain separate steps. <Cite refs={["turn468109search0","turn468109view0"]} />
Supporters argue that state police could improve local intelligence and make security responses more responsive to communities. Critics and reform advocates have also raised concerns about political interference, unequal funding, accountability and the risk of creating competing security structures.
The eventual outcome will depend on whether lawmakers can resolve these questions through a clear constitutional and legal framework.
For residents, the most important test is whether any reform improves security while protecting rights, maintaining professional standards and ensuring that law-enforcement institutions serve the public rather than partisan interests.
The next phase of the state-police debate will be measured not by declarations of support alone, but by formal legislative decisions, transparent safeguards and a credible plan for implementation.
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