The Nigerian Senate successfully passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, this Wednesday. This legislative milestone, championed by President Bola Tinubu, aims to address long-standing security gaps by allowing states to establish their own policing services while replacing the existing Nigeria Police Force with a reformed Federal Police Service.
The bill includes provisions for federal intervention under strict circumstances. According to Section 214, the Federal Police Service retains authority to intervene if there is a threat to national security, a breakdown of public order, or evidence of human rights abuses by state authorities. Such actions require presidential approval and oversight from both the Senate and the judiciary.
Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele praised the reform as a historic democratic achievement intended to move beyond the constraints of a centralized security model. Despite the legislative success, the proposal has sparked intense debate among stakeholders. Critics like former Minister Solomon Dalung view the bill as a political maneuver ahead of the 2027 elections, fearing that state governors might abuse these powers to target political rivals. Dalung argued that the government should instead focus on empowering citizens to defend themselves.
In contrast, political analyst Jide Ojo supported the move, noting that most federalist nations rely on multi-layered policing systems. Senator Ali Ndume echoed this, emphasizing that Nigeria’s current officer-to-citizen ratio is critically low and fails to meet United Nations standards. Meanwhile, human rights advocate Femi Falana warned that state police might not be a panacea, suggesting that deeper socioeconomic issues, such as mass unemployment and poverty, must be addressed to truly resolve the nation’s security crisis.
