The proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria has hit a roadblock as only four state Houses of Assembly have approved the constitutional amendment required to make the reform possible. The states that have given their concurrence are Edo, Osun, Oyo, and Rivers. This development comes barely three weeks after the National Assembly transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The National Assembly had set a 30-day administrative timeframe for the assemblies to communicate their decisions, although the Constitution does not prescribe 30 days as a mandatory deadline for the states. The major hurdle for the reform is the constitutional requirement for at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly to approve the proposed alteration. With only four states having so far approved the bill, another 20 state legislatures must still back the proposal before the constitutional threshold can be reached.
In the South-West, Osun and Oyo have already approved the bill, while other states are still at different stages of consideration. The Osun State House of Assembly approved the proposed constitutional amendment after considering the provisions clause by clause. Oyo lawmakers also approved the bill after going through its provisions during plenary. Ondo and Ekiti have confirmed receipt of the proposal but have yet to conclude consideration.
In the South-South, Rivers and Edo have approved the amendment. The Rivers State House of Assembly unanimously endorsed the proposal after considering the constitutional provisions before the lawmakers. The Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said the proposal was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and bring policing closer to the people. The House recorded 25 votes in favour, with no opposition or abstention.
The process is moving slowly across much of Northern Nigeria, with several assemblies yet to debate or vote on the proposal. Kano, Kwara, Kebbi, Taraba, and Gombe are among the states where lawmakers have said the proposal had not been formally received or scheduled for consideration. In Kogi, the bill has been received but no decision has been taken. Yobe, Borno, Nasarawa, Zamfara, and Sokoto have also received the proposal but have yet to approve it.
In the South-East, Anambra, Enugu, and Imo have not completed consideration of the proposal. Abia is expected to take a position after lawmakers resume from recess on October 6. Ebonyi, however, has confirmed receipt of the bill and promised to give it accelerated consideration. The proposed amendment aims to create a constitutional basis for state police while retaining the Nigeria Police Force at the federal level.
The reform has remained one of the most prominent issues in Nigeria’s security, particularly as the country continues to grapple with kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and other forms of violent crime. The proposed amendment also provides for safeguards and national standards governing the operation of state police services.
Key points
- Only four Nigerian states have approved the constitutional amendment required to establish state police.
- The National Assembly had set a 30-day administrative timeframe for state assemblies to communicate their decisions on the proposed reform.
- At least 24 state Houses of Assembly must approve the proposed alteration for the reform to take effect.
