President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, to the House of Representatives, marking another major step toward establishing state police services across the country.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create a legal foundation for state police, a reform the President says is necessary to strengthen Nigeria’s security system and improve responses to emerging threats. In a letter read during plenary on Tuesday, Tinubu explained that the bill builds on previous legislative efforts by the House while introducing additional safeguards to ensure an effective dual policing system involving both the Federal Government and state governments.
According to the President, the amendment is designed to provide a constitutional pathway for the creation of state police services capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. He stated that the proposal reflects his administration’s broader strategy to reorganise the nation’s security architecture and improve the protection of lives and property.
Tinubu also noted that the legislation incorporates mechanisms intended to ensure the smooth operation of state police alongside the Nigeria Police Force, with clear constitutional backing for both levels of policing. Describing the bill as a critical component of his security reform agenda, the President urged members of the House of Representatives to give it accelerated consideration and passage.
He expressed confidence that lawmakers would act swiftly to move the legislation through the legislative process in the interest of national security. The development follows a similar move by the Senate, which approved its version of the constitutional amendment bill less than two weeks ago after securing the constitutionally required support of more than two-thirds of senators.
For the proposal to become law, the House of Representatives must also approve the amendment before it receives endorsement from the required number of state Houses of Assembly, as stipulated by the Constitution. If the process is successfully completed, Nigeria will have the constitutional framework needed to establish state police services, a long-debated reform many stakeholders believe could strengthen security across the federation by bringing policing closer to local communities.
