In a landmark move that reshapes Nigeria’s security landscape, the Senate on Wednesday passed a constitutional amendment bill establishing state police services across the federation, ending decades of centralized policing and ushering in a new era of decentralized security governance.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police and Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1055)”, was approved during consideration by the Committee of the Whole, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
With its passage, the legislation replaces the existing Nigeria Police Force framework with a dual structure comprising a Federal Police Service and State Police Services, creating a constitutional basis for state policing including the establishment of state police commissions, while retaining the federal police structure in every state until a state police service becomes operational.
How the New Structure Works
Under the new arrangement, the Federal Police Service will be responsible for federal offences, security within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), national security matters, interstate crimes and organized criminal activities. State police services will handle local law enforcement, maintenance of public order and protection of lives and property within their respective states.
The legislation also provides guidelines for the appointment, oversight, discipline and removal of both the Inspector-General of Police and state police commanders.
It further empowers the Federal Government to intervene in state police operations under limited circumstances, including a breakdown of public order, operational incapacity or threats to national security.
The bill was considered after Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) presented its general principles. It subsequently scaled second reading, was considered clause-by-clause and passed third reading.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier transmitted the constitutional amendment bill to the Senate as part of broader efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.
The Senate adopted a manual voting process after electronic voting devices failed to function despite repeated attempts to activate them for more than 30 minutes. Senators subsequently voted by raising their hands to indicate their positions on the bill.
The passage of the legislation represents one of the most significant constitutional reforms in Nigeria’s security sector and is expected to reshape policing, public safety and intergovernmental security relations across the federation
