ABUJA, Nigeria - October 25, 2026

Nigeria’s proposed state policing system has reached a significant stage in the constitutional amendment process, but legislative approval remains outstanding in several states.

Twelve state Houses of Assembly, including Kano and Lagos, were reported to have yet to approve the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police in Nigeria, as debate continues over the future of the country’s policing structure.

According to Leadership, the outstanding states include Kano, Lagos, Ondo, Ebonyi, Kogi, Niger, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina and Sokoto.

The development comes amid growing calls for reforms to Nigeria’s security architecture, with supporters of state police arguing that decentralized policing could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community engagement and enable faster responses to security threats.

However, a separate report published by THISDAY on October 24 put the number of approving states at 25, leaving 11 yet to endorse the proposal. The difference suggests that the approval count has changed as state legislatures continue their deliberations.

How the constitutional amendment process stands

The National Assembly transmitted the proposed Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16, following its passage by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23.

Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional alteration requires resolutions supporting the amendment from at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly - 24 of the 36 states.

The reported approval of 24 or more states therefore represents an important procedural milestone. However, the constitutional process must still be completed before the proposed policing arrangements can take effect.

The National Assembly had requested that state legislatures communicate their decisions within 30 days. Legal commentary cited by Leadership indicates that the period was an administrative target rather than a binding constitutional deadline.

Why state police remain a major national debate

Proponents of state police maintain that state governments and local security structures could be better positioned to understand local languages, terrain and community dynamics.

They argue that such an arrangement could complement federal policing efforts in tackling kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, communal violence and other crimes.

Nevertheless, concerns remain about the possibility of governors using state-controlled police formations against political opponents, protesters or other citizens.

Questions surrounding recruitment, funding, operational independence, accountability and cooperation between federal and state police services will be central to the implementation of any new system.

Legal practitioner Yomi Ogunsanya, speaking to Leadership, called for constitutional safeguards to prevent governors from abusing their powers if state police are established.

Executive Director of the Alliance for Peoples Rights, Obadofin Rotimi Adeyemi, also criticized delays by some state assemblies, arguing that lawmakers should exercise their legislative responsibilities independently. His comments represent his assessment of the political and legislative process.

What happens next?

The immediate priority is to complete the state-level approval process and proceed with the remaining constitutional requirements.

Separately, the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill has advanced work on a proposed National Policing Bill, 2026, and related consequential amendment bills. These are intended to provide a broader legal and administrative framework for policing reform.

The constitutional amendment and the proposed policing legislation are related but distinct processes. Reaching the required number of state approvals does not, by itself, mean state police are already operational.

For Nigerians, the central question is whether the proposed reform can improve public safety while protecting citizens' fundamental rights and preventing political interference in law enforcement.

The effectiveness of any new policing structure will ultimately depend not only on its constitutional foundation but also on adequate funding, professional standards, independent oversight and enforceable accountability mechanisms.

Editorial note: The number of states yet to approve differs between reports published around October 24-25. The figures should be reconfirmed against official state assembly resolutions before publication.

Sources

• Leadership: https://leadership.ng/kano-lagos-10-others-yet-to-approve-state-police-bill/
• THISDAY: https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/24/state-police-25-assemblies-approve-amendment-bill-crosses-constitutional-hurdle/
• Voice of Nigeria: https://von.gov.ng/national-assembly-clarifies-transmission-of-state-police-bill/