President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to consider and approve a constitutional amendment that would provide legal backing for the establishment of state police services across Nigeria.
The President made the request in a letter dated June 15, 2026, which Senate President Godswill Akpabio read during plenary on Tuesday.
The proposed legislation, titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create a clear legal and operational framework for policing at the state level.
Tinubu explained that the bill would introduce a dual policing system under which federal and state police institutions would operate within defined constitutional boundaries.
According to the President, the proposed reform is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework and provide a more effective response to emerging threats across different parts of the country.
He noted that the bill draws from earlier legislative work undertaken by the Senate and the House of Representatives. He added that the latest proposal includes further safeguards to promote accountability, coordination and effective implementation.
Tinubu said the establishment of state police forms an important part of his administration’s wider security reform programme, particularly its efforts to improve the protection of lives and property.
He expressed confidence that a decentralised policing system would improve local intelligence gathering, accelerate responses to security incidents and enable states to address threats based on their specific circumstances.
The President appealed to senators to give the bill urgent consideration and ensure its timely passage in the national interest.
After the letter was read, Akpabio referred the proposed amendment to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative consideration.
The committee was directed to examine the bill and submit its report to the chamber on the next legislative day.
