Lawmakers in the House of Representatives passed a constitutional amendment Thursday to create state police forces nationwide.
The bill, formally titled to alter the 1999 Constitution and establish state police across Nigeria, won approval during Committee of the Whole proceedings.
Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker, presented the report backing the proposal. He chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review.
A manual vote showed overwhelming support for the measure. Two hundred eighty-nine lawmakers voted in favour, one abstained, and zero voted against it.
The amendment envisions a two-tier policing framework. It would create both a Federal Police and State Police to tackle Nigeria's rising insecurity through decentralisation.
Section 214 of the Constitution will be rewritten to formally recognise both police systems. The National Assembly gains power to define their structures, administration, and authority.
State governments cannot launch their police forces without State House of Assembly approval. The new service must also meet national standards set by federal lawmakers.
Federal Police will retain policing powers in states until their services launch. Once operational, state police take the lead in their respective jurisdictions.
Safeguards exist to prevent misuse of federal power. Federal intervention only occurs when law and order collapse, governors request assistance, or state police cannot function properly.
The appointment process changes significantly under the new framework. A president appoints the Inspector-General of Police with guidance from the Nigeria Police Council and must secure National Assembly confirmation.
State governors get similar authority over their commissioners of police. They appoint commissioners based on Nigeria Police Council advice, though the state legislature must confirm the choice.
Governors can issue directives to commissioners on public safety matters. But commissioners questioning the lawfulness of orders can escalate disputes to the Nigeria Police Council for resolution.
Constitutional language about police administration receives updates in the bill. References to the National Police Council and Federal Police Service Commission shift to the Nigeria Police Council and Police Service Commission.
Passage represents significant progress in Nigeria's ongoing constitutional review efforts. It resurrects a decades-long national conversation about whether state policing can solve the country's security crisis.
Security analysts have long debated the merits of decentralised policing. Supporters argue local forces better understand regional challenges and respond faster to threats.
Critics worry state police could become tools of political oppression. They warn governors might weaponise forces against opposition parties or activists.
The bill attempts to address these concerns through its governance provisions. It requires transparency and National Assembly oversight of police operations and standards.
Multiple African nations operate state or regional police forces successfully. Kenya, South Africa, and Ethiopia all use decentralised policing models.
Nigeria's implementation timeline remains unclear at this stage. Further legislative steps and state-level approvals will follow before state police launch operations.
