A bill seeking to establish state police and transfer policing powers to subnational governments has passed second reading in the Senate.
The proposed legislation aims to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture amid worsening security challenges nationwide.
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 for Related Matters (Sixth Alteration), 2026 (SB. 794), was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
The bill received broad support from senators across party lines when it was presented for consideration.
After debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred it to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further scrutiny and report.
The committee is chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau.
Presenting the general principles of the bill, Bamidele said the proposal became necessary because of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
He listed terrorism, banditry, mass abductions, farmer-herder clashes, cultism, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism and cyber-related crimes among the threats confronting the country.
According to him, the current centralised policing structure has struggled to respond effectively to complex and localised security threats.
He said Nigerians had consistently demanded a decentralised policing system.
Bamidele said the bill seeks to modernise Nigeria’s security framework by creating both federal and state police structures.
He explained that the proposal would clearly define their responsibilities and establish State Police Service Commissions for oversight.
The Senate Leader added that the bill would move policing powers from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List to strengthen cooperative federalism in security management.
He stressed that the reform “does not weaken national unity,” but enhances it by allowing each tier of government to better discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
Bamidele acknowledged concerns that state police could be abused by state authorities.
He, however, said the bill contained safeguards, including federal oversight mechanisms, uniform national policing standards, legislative confirmation of senior appointments and periodic review of state police operations.
He added that the bill also provided for federal intervention in cases of total breakdown of law and order to ensure balance and accountability.
The Senate Leader argued that local policing would improve intelligence gathering, enable faster response to threats and strengthen community trust in law enforcement.
He said decentralised policing would also ease pressure on the Federal Police.
According to him, this would allow the Federal Police to focus on interstate crimes, terrorism, organised criminal networks, border security, cybercrime and protection of federal assets.
Bamidele said the proposal was consistent with federal principles, noting that countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany operate multi-layered policing systems.
He argued that Nigeria, being a federal system, should not be an exception.
Several senators, particularly from the northern region, supported the bill, describing state police as a possible long-term solution to Nigeria’s security challenges.
Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, also backed the proposal, saying it would help regulate the proliferation of vigilante groups across the country.
He said the bill would provide a legal framework for state policing and ensure proper structure, accountability and effectiveness.
The bill was subsequently referred for further legislative consideration.
