Tinubu Transmits State Police Bill To Senate

President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted the proposed State Police Bill to the Senate.

This has set the stage for what could become one of the most significant reforms of Nigeria’s security architecture since the return to democratic rule.

The bill, titled; Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026, was on Tuesday read for the first time during plenary.

It was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution for accelerated consideration.

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio read the President’s communication to lawmakers.

Akpabio remarked that the proposed constitutional amendment seeks to address longstanding concerns over Nigeria’s centralised policing system and establish a framework for state-controlled police services alongside the federal police.

He said President Tinubu considered the legislation as crucial to restructuring the nation’s security framework and urged the National Assembly to give it speedy consideration.

The Senate President disclosed that the upper chamber would streamline the legislative process to ensure the bill is transmitted to state Houses of Assembly as quickly as possible.

He urged state legislative houses to act promptly when they received the bill.

According to him, the proposal builds on previous work undertaken by both chambers of the National Assembly and contains safeguards for a dual policing structure comprising federal and state police services.

He said advocates of state policing believe that decentralising law enforcement would make security operations more proactive, effective and responsive to local realities.

Akpabio noted that bringing policing closer to communities, local government areas and municipalities would encourage greater citizen participation in security efforts and improve intelligence gathering.

He further argued that locally based police formations would be better positioned to identify criminal elements and prevent infiltration by external actors because residents are more familiar with individuals within their communities.

“The objective is to move from a reactive security system to one that promotes early detection and proactive response to security threats,” he said.

Following its first reading, the bill was referred to the Constitution Review Committee with a directive to report back within days.

Senators are expected to consider the committee’s recommendations collectively before taking a final decision on the legislation.

Akpabio commended members of the Constitution Review Committee for nearly two years of work on the proposal, describing it as a critical component of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security sector.

Lawmakers linked the urgency of the bill to persistent security challenges across the country, expressing optimism that the measure could strengthen efforts to combat insurgency, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime.