Nigeria’s proposed transition to a decentralised policing system has entered a decisive phase, with attention shifting from the National Assembly to the country’s 36 state legislatures after lawmakers approved a landmark constitutional amendment to establish state police services.

The reform, widely regarded as one of the most significant constitutional changes since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, now requires endorsement by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before it can become law.

The Senate’s approval marks a major breakthrough in a decades-long debate over whether Africa’s most populous nation should abandon its exclusively federal policing structure in favour of a dual system that allows states to operate their own police forces alongside the national police service.

The proposal comes amid persistent security challenges across Nigeria, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts and organised crime, all of which have intensified calls for security reforms and greater local control over law enforcement.

A Major Shift in Nigeria’s Security Architecture

The constitutional amendment would fundamentally reshape Nigeria’s policing framework by creating state-controlled police services while retaining the existing federal police structure.

Under the proposal, state governors would appoint Commissioners of Police for their respective states, subject to confirmation by state legislatures. State police forces would be responsible for enforcing state laws, maintaining public order, protecting lives and property, and preventing crime within their jurisdictions.

The Federal Police Service, headed by the Inspector-General of Police, would continue to oversee national security responsibilities, including counterterrorism operations, cybercrime, organised crime, border security, arms trafficking and interstate criminal investigations.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who led debate on the legislation, described the proposal as a carefully balanced framework designed to improve local security while preserving national cohesion.

“The bill is intended to retain the Nigeria Police Force for federal policing duties while providing for the establishment of state police services in states that choose to adopt them,” he said.

Safeguards Against Political Abuse

One of the most contentious aspects of the state police debate has been concern that governors could use local police forces to intimidate political opponents, influence elections or suppress dissent.

To address these concerns, lawmakers incorporated constitutional safeguards aimed at protecting civil liberties and limiting executive overreach.

A key provision prohibits state police commissioners from arresting, detaining, investigating or deploying force against any individual, political party or organisation solely for criticising government authorities, except where actions are carried out in accordance with the law.

The amendment also establishes federal oversight mechanisms and empowers the National Assembly to set minimum national standards covering recruitment, training, discipline, accountability procedures, firearms management and professional conduct.

Federal authorities would only be permitted to intervene in state policing matters under narrowly defined circumstances, including the breakdown of public order, serious violations of fundamental rights, electoral intimidation or threats to national security. Such intervention would require written authorisation from the President and remain subject to legislative oversight and judicial review.

Why Support for State Police Is Growing

Supporters argue that Nigeria’s highly centralised policing structure is no longer adequate for a country of more than 230 million people with diverse security challenges and geographic complexities.

Advocates believe locally recruited officers would possess deeper knowledge of local languages, communities and security dynamics, improving intelligence gathering and crime prevention.

Former senior police officer, Tunji Alapinni, described the reform as an opportunity to strengthen grassroots security and revive community-based policing.

Similarly, leaders of the regional security outfit, Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun), said their experience demonstrates the effectiveness of community-driven security initiatives in tackling crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery and banditry.

According to Amotekun commanders, the organisation’s operational successes across southwestern Nigeria provide practical evidence that decentralised policing can improve crime detection and law enforcement outcomes.

Economic and Governance Implications

Beyond security, analysts view the state police proposal as an important governance reform with potential economic implications.

Improved security is widely regarded as a prerequisite for attracting investment, protecting infrastructure, supporting agricultural production and reducing business risks across Nigeria’s regions.

Supporters also argue that state governments already spend substantial resources supporting federal security agencies through the provision of vehicles, logistics and operational funding, despite having limited authority over policing decisions.

Seye Oyeleye, Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, said decentralised policing would increase Nigeria’s law-enforcement capacity and move the country closer to a more federal system of governance.

He estimated that if each state recruited approximately 5,000 officers, Nigeria could add around 180,000 personnel to its overall policing capacity.

“This is a momentous day and an epochal day for Nigeria,” Oyeleye said, describing the reform as a significant step toward strengthening federalism and addressing longstanding security gaps.

The Next Political Battle

Despite broad support among many security experts, governors and regional stakeholders, the proposal still faces a demanding constitutional hurdle.

Under Nigeria’s constitution, amendments require approval from at least two-thirds of the country’s state legislatures before they can be enacted.

As a result, the focus of political negotiations has shifted to state capitals, where governors, lawmakers and stakeholders are expected to intensify consultations over the coming weeks.

The outcome will determine whether Nigeria proceeds with one of the most transformative security reforms in its modern history or whether longstanding concerns about funding, accountability and political abuse continue to delay the creation of state police.

For now, the future of decentralised policing rests with the 36 state assemblies—of which at least 24 must vote in favour for the reform to become reality.