Nigeria’s push to establish state police has gained fresh momentum, with five additional state assemblies reportedly approving constitutional amendments to pave the way for the creation of state-level police services.
The development involves Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Kwara and Adamawa states, which have joined other states supporting the proposed reform. A presidential working group has also submitted a draft National Policing Bill, 2026, alongside 29 related constitutional amendment bills for review.
The proposal is intended to improve security by allowing states to establish police services that can respond more directly to local challenges. Supporters argue that state police could help address manpower shortages in the Nigeria Police Force and improve intelligence gathering at the community level.
Under the proposed arrangement, state police would operate alongside the federal police, with the constitutional amendments expected to provide the legal framework for their establishment.
However, the proposal also raises questions about accountability, funding and the possibility of state governors using local police to target political opponents. These concerns have made safeguards, operational standards and respect for human rights important parts of the ongoing debate.
The proposed legislation will require further constitutional and legislative processes before state police can become operational. Approval by state assemblies is an important step, but it does not by itself establish state police.
If implemented with effective oversight, adequate funding and clear limits on political interference, the reform could change how security is managed across Nigeria.
For now, attention is focused on the next stages of the legislative process and the safeguards that will determine how the proposed state police services operate.
