Ekiti, Anambra, Benue, Two Other States Approve State Police Bill

Five State Houses of Assembly have reportedly approved the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police in Nigeria, adding momentum to efforts to decentralise the country’s policing system amid persistent security challenges.

The development comes as state legislatures consider the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which seeks to provide a constitutional framework for the establishment of state police services alongside the Federal Police Service.

The Anambra State House of Assembly approved the bill during plenary in Awka, while the Benue State House of Assembly also endorsed the proposed amendment during its sitting in Makurdi.The approvals are part of a broader national legislative process aimed at giving states a greater role in addressing local security threats.

Supporters of state police argue that decentralised policing could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community-level crime prevention and enable faster responses to emergencies. They also believe officers familiar with local communities could be better positioned to identify emerging threats and assist in tackling kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities.

However, the proposal has also generated concerns about potential political interference, human rights abuses and the need for effective oversight to prevent the misuse of state-controlled security agencies.

Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional amendment requires approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 states, before it can proceed to the next stages of the amendment process.

The passage of the bill by individual state legislatures does not, by itself, establish state police. The proposal must satisfy the constitutional requirements and complete the remaining legislative procedures before the new policing framework can take effect.

As deliberations continue across the federation, the central question remains whether sufficient states will endorse the amendment and whether the eventual legal framework can balance improved local security with accountability, professional policing and the protection of citizens’ rights.

Ekiti, Anambra and Benue are among the states backing Nigeria’s proposed State Police Bill as lawmakers consider constitutional reforms to strengthen local security.