From Victor Osula, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has intensified efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture by transmitting a Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police to the Senate, a move widely seen as a major step towards decentralising policing and strengthening internal security across the country.
The proposed legislation, contained in a communication dated June 15, 2026, was read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary.
According to the president, the bill is designed to provide the constitutional framework for a dual policing structure that would enable states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Federal Police.
Tinubu stated that the proposed amendment forms a critical component of ongoing efforts to reorganise the nation’s policing system and improve the protection of lives and property amid growing security challenges across the federation.
He noted that the proposed arrangement would allow communities, municipalities, and local government areas to play more active roles in policing and intelligence gathering, thereby enhancing grassroots security and crime prevention.
Following the presentation of the executive communication, Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for further legislative consideration, directing the panel to report back to the chamber on Wednesday.
Speaking on the proposal, Akpabio stressed the importance of community-based policing, arguing that residents and local authorities are often better positioned to detect suspicious activities and provide timely intelligence to security agencies.
According to him, empowering communities to participate more actively in security management would strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent crimes and respond swiftly to emerging threats.
“You will know when foreigners infiltrate Nigeria and alert security agencies so they can react proactively rather than reactively,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President expressed confidence that collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government would facilitate the successful passage of the legislation and eventual implementation of state police across the federation.
He further explained that the process would be implemented in phases, beginning with constitutional amendments before the enactment of supporting legislation by the National Assembly.
“We will do it in two phases through alteration and an Act of Parliament. There will be a lot of safeguards; let us come and do this important task. It is extremely important that we come tomorrow,” Akpabio told lawmakers.
The proposed safeguards are expected to address concerns raised by critics of state policing, particularly fears that state governors could misuse state-controlled police formations for political purposes.
Supporters of the initiative, however, argue that adequate constitutional checks, legislative oversight and operational standards can prevent abuse while enhancing security effectiveness.
Akpabio also informed senators that plenary would not entertain extensive discussions on other major legislative matters due to the death of Yahaya Tongo, a member of the House of Representatives from Gombe State.
Meanwhile, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele urged lawmakers to attend the next sitting, emphasising the importance of securing the constitutionally required votes for the amendment process.
“We need a minimum of two-thirds of members to vote on constitutional alterations. The issue of state police is non-partisan and cuts across geopolitical zones and interests,” he said.
The latest development comes barely two weeks after the Senate passed an executive bill on state police for second reading.
Akpabio explained that the fresh Constitution Alteration Bill transmitted by President Tinubu builds upon the earlier proposal and is intended to provide the constitutional foundation necessary for the establishment, administration and regulation of state police services nationwide.
For years, advocates of state police have argued that Nigeria’s centrally controlled policing structure has become overstretched and inadequate in addressing contemporary security challenges in a country of more than 200 million people.
They contend that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering, enhance response times, deepen community engagement and enable security agencies to better understand local crime patterns and threats.
However, concerns remain over issues such as funding, operational coordination, accountability and the possibility of political interference in state-controlled police formations.
If eventually approved by the National Assembly and ratified by at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly as required by the Constitution, the amendment would pave the way for one of the most consequential security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history.
