The long-standing debate on establishing state police in Nigeria has reached a critical constitutional milestone. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced that state police will be ready on or before December 2026. This development comes after 30 State Houses of Assembly officially approved the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill, 2026. Bamidele made this disclosure at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau State.
Bamidele, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, addressed participants of the Senior Executive Course 48. He spoke on the topic, “Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Governance through Proactive Lawmaking.” The Senate Leader highlighted that the 30 state approvals meet the two-thirds concurrency requirement mandated by Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution.
According to Bamidele, the constitutional requirement for the alteration has been duly met. He expressed satisfaction that state police have moved from rhetoric to reality. The Senate Leader outlined the next legislative steps, which include the National Assembly collating reports from state assemblies, passing a resolution by a simple majority in both chambers, and transmitting the bill to the President for assent.
Bamidele emphasized that the reform aims at decentralized security, not creating political armies. He noted that the objective is to build a security framework that understands local terrain and communicates in local languages. The Senate Leader assured that the reform will be implemented with clear constitutional safeguards, operational standards, oversight mechanisms, and human rights protections.
The establishment of state police is expected to enhance security in Nigeria by allowing for community-anchored policing. Bamidele stressed that it is not about creating state armies but about creating state-led policing within clear constitutional safeguards. The Senate Leader expressed confidence that the new security framework will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of governance.
The National Assembly will play a crucial role in the final stages of the bill's passage. The Senate and House of Representatives will pass a resolution by a simple majority in both chambers. The bill will then be transmitted to the President for assent, with the process expected to be completed on or before December 2026.
The implementation of state police in Nigeria is seen as a significant step towards decentralizing security. The new security framework is expected to address local security challenges more effectively. With the constitutional requirements met, Nigerians can expect a new era of policing that is more responsive to local needs and concerns.
Key points
- Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele assures that state police will be ready by December 2026.
- 30 state assemblies have approved the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill, 2026.
- The establishment of state police aims at decentralized security, not creating political armies.
