The proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria has moved closer to becoming a reality, following approvals by several state Houses of Assembly.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed that at least 30 state legislatures had approved the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police.
Speaking on Thursday at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau State, Bamidele said the National Assembly had received the reports and was working towards completing the remaining legislative process by December 2026.
The proposed amendment is expected to introduce a dual policing system, allowing both the Federal Government and individual state governments to operate police services.
Supporters of the proposal argue that state police could improve local intelligence gathering and help security agencies respond more quickly to crimes within communities.
However, concerns have also been raised about the possibility of state governments misusing local police structures for political purposes. Questions surrounding accountability, human rights and proper oversight remain important to the debate.
The National Assembly is expected to consider the reports from the state legislatures before transmitting the amendment to the President for assent.
The development comes amid continuing concerns about insecurity across different parts of the country.
As the process continues, Nigerians will be watching closely to see how the proposed reform is implemented and what safeguards will be introduced to ensure that state police operate within the law.
