The Nigerian Senate has expressed confidence that the proposed establishment of state police will secure the required approval of state Houses of Assembly. According to Yemi Adaramodu, chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, the Senate has transmitted the State Police Services Bill to the 36 state Houses of Assembly, which have a 30-day ultimatum to consider and decide on the bill. The deadline is set for October 15.
As of Thursday, only four states - Edo, Oyo, Osun, and Rivers - had approved the bill. However, Adaramodu said the Senate is optimistic that at least 24 state Houses of Assembly, representing two-thirds of the total, will consent to the proposal. He noted that it was unrealistic to expect all Nigerians to support the proposal, but the majority of Nigerians favour the establishment of state police to address the country's security challenges.
The proposed State Police Services Bill is part of the constitutional alteration process, aimed at decentralizing policing in Nigeria. Proponents argue that state-controlled police will provide a more effective response to local security threats. The National Assembly transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 state Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026.
Adaramodu allayed fears that the constitutional amendment could be delayed until the 11th National Assembly, assuring that the current 10th Senate will complete the process. He also said the National Assembly expects responses from state legislatures soon, possibly by next week. The Senate requires the approval of at least 24 state Houses of Assembly to proceed with the amendment process.
The development comes amid growing calls for reforms to Nigeria's policing architecture, amid persistent security challenges. Nnadubem Moghalu, Secretary of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, confirmed that four states had already approved the proposed constitutional amendment. The state police proposal requires a two-thirds threshold of state Houses of Assembly approval before the National Assembly can proceed.
Adaramodu said although some individuals may oppose the proposal, the majority of Nigerians want state police. He emphasized that the Senate has had deliberations on the bill and is confident of its passage. The chairman also noted that it was normal for some people to have differing opinions on any proposal in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Senate's confidence in the state police proposal comes as the country continues to grapple with security challenges. With the deadline for state Houses of Assembly to consider the bill approaching, Nigerians are eagerly awaiting the outcome. The Senate's assurance that the process will be completed within the current 10th Senate's term has raised hopes that state police may soon become a reality.
Key points
- Nigerian Senate confident 24 states will back state police proposal
- State police bill requires approval of 24 state Houses of Assembly
- Four states have already approved the proposed constitutional amendment
