President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally asked the Senate to approve a constitutional amendment bill aimed at establishing state police, in what could mark a major shift in Nigeria’s security framework.
The request was conveyed in a letter dated June 15, 2026, and read on the floor of the Red Chamber on Tuesday by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The proposed legislation, titled Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create a legal foundation for state-controlled policing systems alongside the existing federal structure.
Tinubu, in the correspondence, said the bill is designed to address Nigeria’s growing security challenges by introducing a dual policing architecture that allows both federal and state police to operate within a coordinated constitutional framework.
He noted that the proposal builds on previous efforts by the National Assembly, adding that new safeguards have been incorporated to ensure effective implementation and prevent abuse.
“This bill builds on the significant work already done… and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving security challenges will be achieved quickly and effectively,” the President stated.
The President described the bill as a critical component of his administration’s broader strategy to reform the country’s security architecture and enhance the protection of lives and property nationwide.
He expressed confidence that the Senate would expedite consideration and passage of the bill.
Following the reading of the letter, Akpabio referred the proposed legislation to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative scrutiny, directing the panel to report back to the chamber on the next legislative day.
The move signals renewed momentum for state policing, a long-debated issue in Nigeria’s governance and security discourse, amid persistent concerns over insecurity across various parts of the country.
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