The Senate on Wednesday, passed a constitutional amendment bill to establish state police services nationwide.
This marks a major step in the long-running efforts to decentralise policing and strengthen internal security in Nigeria.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police and Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1055)”, was approved during consideration by the Committee of the Whole, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
With its passage, the legislation replaces the existing Nigeria Police Force framework with a dual structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
The bill creates a constitutional basis for state policing, including the establishment of state police commissions, while retaining the federal police structure in every state until a state police service becomes operational.
Under the new arrangement, the Federal Police Service will be responsible for federal offences, security within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), national security matters, interstate crimes and organised criminal activities.
State police services, on the other hand, will be charged with local law enforcement, maintenance of public order and protection of lives and property within their respective states.
The legislation also provides guidelines for the appointment, oversight, discipline and removal of both the Inspector-General of Police and state police commanders. It further empowers the Federal Government to intervene in state police operations under limited circumstances, including a breakdown of public order, operational incapacity or threats to national security.
