President has formally transmitted a constitutional amendment bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police as part of efforts to address growing security challenges across the country.
The proposed legislation, titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026, was read during plenary on Tuesday by Senate President .
The bill seeks to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the creation and operation of state-controlled police forces alongside existing federal security structures.
Addressing lawmakers after reading the President’s communication, Akpabio described the proposal as a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and improving community participation in policing.
According to him, local communities are often better positioned to identify criminal elements and suspicious activities within their environment, making state policing a potentially effective tool for intelligence gathering and crime prevention.
“This is an epoch-making legislation that can significantly address insecurity and encourage broader participation of communities in maintaining public safety,” the Senate President said.
Akpabio noted that many state governments had already expressed support for the initiative and were prepared to move swiftly once the constitutional amendment process was completed.
He also commended members of the National Assembly for returning from their annual recess to consider the state police proposal and other constitutional amendment bills.
The Senate President disclosed that copies of the Constitution Review Committee’s report had already been distributed to senators to facilitate deliberations, adding that the proposal was the product of nearly two years of consultations and legislative engagement.
He praised members of the Constitution Review Committee for their efforts in developing the framework for the amendment.
As part of efforts to fast-track consideration of the bill, Akpabio directed the committee handling the matter to resubmit its report on Wednesday for further legislative action.
He reiterated the Senate’s determination to conclude work on the proposal before lawmakers proceed on their annual recess.
However, debate on the state police bill was postponed until Wednesday following the announcement of the death of a member of the House of Representatives, , who represented the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State.
The announcement cast a sombre mood over the chamber, prompting Akpabio to extend condolences to the deceased lawmaker’s family, political associates and constituents.
Senators subsequently observed a minute of silence in honour of the late federal lawmaker before the plenary continued.
The renewed push for state police comes amid persistent calls from governors, security experts and other stakeholders for a decentralised policing structure capable of addressing local security threats more effectively.
Supporters argue that state police would improve response times, enhance intelligence gathering and strengthen community policing, while critics have raised concerns about possible political abuse by state governments.