Nigeria Moves Closer to State Police as 30 States Endorse Amendment

Thirty state Houses of Assembly have approved the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police in Nigeria, surpassing the required two-thirds threshold of 24 states. Lagos, Ebonyi, Kogi and Niger gave their approval on Tuesday, October 27, bringing the total to 30 out of 36 states.

The amendment will now be collated and transmitted by the National Assembly to President Bola Tinubu for assent. Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the process is nearing completion and expressed optimism that a decentralised policing system could soon be adopted.

“A company can reinforce its perimeter. Its workers still have to travel home, and its suppliers still have to move through the surrounding communities.”

State police would bring law enforcement closer to communities and complement existing security structures, according to Akpabio. He argued the reform would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle insecurity.

The Presidency has separately called on the Organised Private Sector to develop practical proposals for financing and implementing state police. Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila made the appeal at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila said insecurity has harmed businesses through abandoned investments, delayed expansion plans, disrupted supply chains and reduced employment opportunities. He warned that companies cannot protect investments by securing only their own premises while workers and suppliers travel through unsafe communities.

Akpabio also urged northern youths to support President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election and to reject paid social media propaganda against the administration. He said economic reforms and security policies need time to produce results.

Observers expect the proposed system to face further scrutiny over funding, accountability, operational independence and safeguards against political interference by state governors.