Nigeria’s Senate Backs State Police in a Historic Shift
Nigeria's Senate approved a constitutional amendment to allow each of the 36 states to establish its own police force, marking a shift from a century of centralized policing. The amendment, backed by more than two‑thirds of senators, requires approval from two‑thirds of state assemblies before it can be signed into law by the president. Proponents argue that state police will improve responses to kidnapping, banditry and insurgency while the national police will continue to operate alongside them.
- ▪The Senate passed the amendment with over two‑thirds support, creating state police forces led by commissioners appointed by governors and confirmed by state legislatures.
- ▪President Bola Tinubu initiated the proposal and Senate President Godswill Akpabio guided the vote through the chamber.
- ▪The amendment aims to enhance local security against kidnapping, banditry and insurgency, while preserving the role of the national police under the Inspector‑General.
- ▪Implementation awaits approval from two‑thirds of the 36 state assemblies before the president can sign it into law.
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Western Africa Africa Nigeria’s Senate Backs State Police in a Historic Shift By Samuel Ncube · June 26, 2026 · 5 min read Daily Brief The morning intel from across Latin America. Free. Subscribe By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy. We never share your email. NIGERIA · POLITICS Key Facts —The vote: The Senate passed a constitutional amendment to create state police, with more than two-thirds of senators in favour. —How it works: Each state force would be led by a commissioner appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state legislature. —The aim: Backers say local forces can better tackle kidnapping, banditry and insurgency than a stretched national police. —Federal role: The national police, under the Inspector-General, would remain alongside the new state forces.
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