President Bola Tinubu has formally submitted the 2026 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill to the House of Representatives. This legislative move aims to secure constitutional authorization for creating state-level police forces throughout Nigeria.
During a session on Tuesday, the House received a letter from the president explaining that the bill intends to modify the 1999 Constitution. By establishing a dual policing system that includes both state and federal authorities, the administration hopes to bolster the nation’s security framework. Tinubu emphasized that this proposal incorporates necessary safeguards and builds upon existing legislative foundations developed by the House.
The President highlighted that this initiative is essential for adapting to Nigeria’s modern security threats. He requested that lawmakers prioritize the review and approval of the bill as a central pillar of his security reform program. This action follows the Senate’s recent passage of a parallel bill, which successfully met the two-thirds majority requirement for constitutional amendments.
If the House of Representatives passes the bill and it gains approval from the necessary number of state Houses of Assembly, Nigeria will be on a clear path toward decentralizing law enforcement to combat rising insecurity.
