Lawmakers approve constitutional amendment allowing states to establish police services alongside the Federal Police.
The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to establish State Police Services across Nigeria, marking a major step toward restructuring the country’s security architecture.
The legislation, which received overwhelming support from senators, will replace the existing single Nigeria Police Force framework with a dual policing structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
Under the proposed law, state governors will be empowered to appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by the State House of Assembly. The bill also outlines safeguards to prevent political abuse, including provisions protecting citizens from unlawful arrests or intimidation based on political views.
The Senate said the move is aimed at strengthening grassroots security, improving intelligence gathering, and enabling faster responses to crime and emergencies.
The bill follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent transmission of a constitutional amendment proposal to the National Assembly, describing state police as a critical solution to Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
If eventually adopted through the constitutional amendment process, the reform will mark one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s policing system since the return to democratic rule.