Nigeria’s House of Representatives has passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state-controlled police forces, marking a significant shift in the country’s security architecture. The legislation, approved on June 11, 2026, would allow each of Nigeria’s 36 states to create its own police service alongside the existing federal Nigeria Police Force.
The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, is designed to address persistent security challenges across the country, including banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency. Lawmakers backing the proposal argue that decentralizing policing powers will enable faster and more localized responses to threats that often overwhelm federal security agencies.
Under the proposed framework, state governors would have the authority to appoint heads of their respective police commands, though the bill includes oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse of power. National standards are also expected to guide recruitment, training, and operations to ensure consistency across the country.
Supporters of the reform, including President Bola Tinubu, have described the move as a long-overdue step toward strengthening internal security. In recent years, calls for state policing have intensified amid rising insecurity, particularly in rural and underserved regions where federal response times have been criticized as slow.
“This is about bringing policing closer to the people,” a lawmaker familiar with the bill’s drafting said. “Communities understand their local dynamics better, and this structure allows them to respond more effectively while still operating within a national framework.”
However, the proposal has also sparked debate. Critics have raised concerns about the potential for political misuse, especially in states where institutional checks are weak. Some civil society groups have warned that without strong safeguards, state police forces could be used to suppress political opposition or deepen regional inequalities.
The passage of the bill in the House represents only the first step in what could be a complex legislative process. It will now move to the Senate for consideration. If approved, it must also secure endorsement from at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s state assemblies before it can be signed into law.
Security analysts say the coming months will be critical in shaping the final structure of the reform. While many agree that Nigeria’s current centralized policing system is under strain, the success of state police will likely depend on how well accountability, funding, and coordination issues are addressed.
For now, the bill’s progress signals growing political will to rethink how security is managed in Africa’s most populous nation, an issue that remains central to public trust and national stability.