STATE POLICE: 30 STATES BACK CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AS NIGERIA MOVES TOWARDS DECENTRALISED POLICING

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STATE POLICE: 30 STATES BACK CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AS NIGERIA MOVES TOWARDS DECENTRALISED POLICING

STATE POLICE: 30 STATES BACK CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AS NIGERIA MOVES TOWARDS DECENTRALISED POLICING

Editorial | October 29, 2026

Nigeria’s long-running debate over the establishment of state police has reached a significant legislative milestone, following the disclosure by Senate President Godswill Akpabio that about 30 state Houses of Assembly have endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment to introduce decentralised policing in the country.

Akpabio made the disclosure on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, when members of the Arewa Revival Project, a northern youth organisation with membership across the 19 northern states, visited him in Abuja. He expressed confidence that the amendment process was approaching completion and suggested that Nigeria could introduce state police within a short period.

The announcement has renewed public attention on a fundamental question of national security: can bringing policing closer to the people improve Nigeria’s ability to protect lives, property and communities against persistent threats, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes?

The development is particularly important because the proposed reform would change the existing constitutional framework under which the Nigeria Police Force operates primarily as a federal institution.

However, while the reported endorsements represent considerable legislative progress, the distinction between approving a constitutional amendment and implementing a functioning state police system remains essential.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE 30-STATE ENDORSEMENT

According to reports published by Channels Television and THISDAY on October 29, Akpabio said approximately 30 state legislatures had endorsed the constitutional amendment. This is significant because Nigeria’s Constitution requires state-level concurrence for constitutional alterations, in addition to the necessary approvals at the National Assembly.

Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, requires a constitutional alteration to be supported by at least a two-thirds majority of all members of each chamber of the National Assembly and approved by resolutions of at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly. This means that at least 24 states must approve the amendment.

Consequently, if the reported 30 endorsements are confirmed through the formal legislative record, the proposal would have surpassed the minimum state-level constitutional threshold. That would constitute a major step towards changing Nigeria’s policing structure.

Nevertheless, reaching the numerical threshold does not automatically mean that state police units are already operational. The outstanding constitutional procedures, applicable legal requirements and practical arrangements for implementing the reform must still be completed.

WHY NIGERIA IS CONSIDERING STATE POLICE

For decades, Nigeria’s security structure has been dominated by a centrally organised police force responsible for policing across the federation. Although state governments contribute to security initiatives and work with federal agencies, they do not currently operate independent state police forces under the existing constitutional framework.

Supporters of decentralised policing argue that a single national structure may struggle to respond adequately to the different security needs of Nigeria’s diverse communities. The challenges confronting a rural farming settlement in the North-Central, a commercial centre in the South-West and a riverine community in the South-South may require different local knowledge, intelligence networks and operational priorities.

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State police could bring law enforcement closer to residents, potentially enabling officers to understand local terrain, identify emerging threats and respond more quickly to distress calls. The proposed reform is also expected to strengthen intelligence gathering by encouraging closer relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

However, the effectiveness of such a system would depend on more than its geographical proximity to the people. Recruitment standards, professional training, adequate funding, operational independence and public accountability would determine whether decentralisation translates into improved security.

WHAT THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT MEANS

The proposed constitutional alteration seeks to create a framework in which federal and state police institutions can operate alongside each other, with their respective powers and responsibilities defined by law.

Under the proposed arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force would continue to perform federal policing duties, while states would be able to establish their own police formations in accordance with the new legal framework.

The proposal is intended to clarify the respective jurisdictions of the two levels of policing and provide mechanisms for cooperation where their responsibilities overlap.

Such a structure could enable state governments to respond more directly to local security problems without eliminating the need for a national police institution. Federal policing would remain important for matters involving interstate criminal networks, national security threats and investigations that extend beyond individual state boundaries.

The challenge, therefore, is to establish a workable division of responsibilities. If federal and state police agencies operate without clearly defined jurisdictions and effective coordination, overlapping authority could produce disputes, operational delays and confusion over responsibility.

The reform must consequently establish not only the authority to create state police but also the legal and administrative arrangements required to make the system coherent.

THE DANGER OF POLITICAL ABUSE

One of the most serious concerns surrounding state police is the possibility that political officeholders could use local law enforcement to intimidate opponents, suppress peaceful dissent or settle personal and political disputes.

Because governors would potentially exercise significant influence over state policing institutions, safeguards would be necessary to ensure that officers serve the law and the public rather than the political interests of the government of the day.

An effective framework should provide independent complaints mechanisms, transparent recruitment procedures, clear rules governing the use of force, professional disciplinary systems and meaningful judicial oversight. It should also protect the rights of citizens irrespective of their political affiliation, ethnic background, religion or social status.

The Presidency has acknowledged concerns about the possible abuse of state police powers and has emphasised the need for enforceable limits, professional standards and independent oversight. It has also highlighted the importance of ensuring that private-sector contributions to policing do not compromise police independence.

These protections are fundamental. Decentralisation should not merely transfer the risk of abuse from one level of government to another. It should create a system in which security institutions are more responsive to local needs while remaining subject to the Constitution and the rule of law.

FUNDING: THE TEST OF PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION

Beyond the constitutional question, funding will be a major determinant of whether state police can function effectively.

State governments would need sufficient resources to recruit and remunerate officers, provide training, maintain operational vehicles, acquire communications equipment, establish appropriate facilities and support investigations.

They would also need sustainable budgets for pensions, insurance, professional development and other long-term obligations.

A state that establishes a police force without adequate funding could create an institution that exists on paper but lacks the capacity to protect its residents effectively.

According to a report published by The Guardian on October 28, 2026, the Presidency has called on private-sector leaders to contribute ideas towards a sustainable financing and implementation framework for state police. The report also highlighted the need for transparent partnerships that do not compromise law enforcement independence.

This raises an important question of fiscal capacity. States differ considerably in their revenue bases and administrative resources. A workable national framework must consider how less financially capable states can maintain acceptable policing standards without creating significant disparities in public safety across the federation.

Financial support arrangements, where appropriate, would need transparent rules and strong safeguards against political or commercial interference.

WILL STATE POLICE END INSECURITY?

The establishment of state police should not be presented as an automatic solution to Nigeria’s security problems.

Decentralised policing could improve local intelligence, community engagement and response times. Nevertheless, it would not independently eliminate the underlying factors that enable criminal activity, including arms trafficking, unemployment, weak criminal investigations, inadequate prosecution, corruption and the activities of organised criminal networks.

Success would require cooperation between federal and state police institutions, the armed forces where appropriate, intelligence agencies, the courts, local authorities and community-based security structures.

It would also require improved investigation and prosecution so that arrests lead to lawful and effective outcomes rather than the repeated release of suspects without adequate resolution of cases.

The public should therefore assess the proposed reform by its measurable results: reductions in violent crime, improved emergency response, successful investigations, protection of vulnerable communities and increased public confidence in law enforcement.

The ultimate objective must be the safety and security of Nigerians, not simply the creation of additional police institutions.

A CONSTITUTIONAL MILESTONE THAT REQUIRES PUBLIC SCRUTINY

Akpabio’s announcement comes amid broader efforts to restructure Nigeria’s security architecture. The reported endorsement by approximately 30 state assemblies indicates that the proposal has attracted substantial legislative support.

However, the public also needs clear information about the precise provisions approved, the states whose formal resolutions have been recorded, the remaining legal procedures and the timetable for implementation.

This transparency is important because constitutional reform affects every citizen. State police should not be treated solely as a political achievement; it is a public institution whose design and performance must be judged by its ability to protect people and uphold the law.

The views of state legislatures, governors, security professionals, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and ordinary residents will be important in shaping public confidence in the reform.

Equally, political leaders must avoid creating the impression that the endorsement itself has already resolved the country’s security challenges. Legislative progress is an important step, but operational success will require sustained institutional work.

EDITORIAL CONCLUSION: FROM ENDORSEMENT TO EFFECTIVE SECURITY

The reported endorsement of the state police constitutional amendment by about 30 state Houses of Assembly represents a potentially consequential development in Nigeria’s continuing search for more effective security arrangements.

If formally confirmed and followed by the completion of the constitutional process, it would move the country closer to a decentralised policing system in which states could take greater responsibility for addressing security threats within their territories.

But the true significance of this development will not be determined by the number of state assemblies that endorse the proposal. It will be determined by the quality of the legislation, the adequacy of funding, the professionalism of the officers recruited, the independence of oversight institutions and the protection of citizens against abuse.

Nigeria needs a policing system capable of responding to local realities without sacrificing national coordination, constitutional rights or equal protection under the law.

The central question is no longer simply whether state police should be established, but how Nigeria can establish a system that is effective, accountable, adequately funded and trusted by the people it is designed to protect.

Source note: This editorial is based on reporting published by Channels Television and THISDAY on October 29, 2026, and The Guardian on October 28, 2026. Akpabio’s statement about the endorsements is attributed to him; it should be distinguished from formal confirmation of every legislative resolution and completion of the constitutional process.