President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday evening formally urged members of the Nigerian Senate to start the process of amending the Constitution to include provisions for state police as part of efforts to improve national security.
Nigeria’s security challenges have included terrorism, banditry, and insurgency across multiple states. Under the current legal framework, policing authority remains exclusively at the federal level, with all states depending on the Nigeria Police Force for internal security.
Amending the Constitution to allow state police would change this structure, requiring approval by two-thirds of both legislative chambers and ratification by at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly.
President Tinubu made his appeal during an interfaith breaking of fast event with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said the constitutional change would help strengthen grassroots policing and enhance states’ capacity to respond swiftly to threats within their jurisdictions.
According to the president’s spokesman, a decentralised policing structure would complement the existing federal security framework and support intelligence-led, community-focused law enforcement.
The president referred to ongoing national security threats, including terrorism, banditry, and insurgency, emphasising the need for an effective legal basis to improve security outcomes.
President Tinubu also commended the cooperation between the executive branch and the Senate, noting that legislative support had contributed to previous reforms including fuel subsidy removal and tax policy changes.
If the amendment process proceeds, states could gain the legal authority to establish and fund their own police services. This development may allow for more locally tailored security operations and potentially faster responses to community needs.
For the National Assembly, the proposal represents a significant constitutional reform effort, requiring broad legislative and sub-national support. The process will involve extensive debate among lawmakers and state governments.
For citizens and local communities, the prospect of state police could influence perceptions of public safety and trust in law enforcement structures. However, no timeline for the amendment’s progression was provided at the event.
