BREAKING: TINUBU FORWARDS STATE POLICE BILL TO SENATE IN MAJOR SECURITY REFORM PUSH

TINUBU FORWARDS STATE POLICE BILL TO SENATE IN MAJOR SECURITY REFORM PUSH

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police, a move that could significantly reshape Nigeria’s security architecture.

The proposed legislation aims to amend key provisions of the 1999 Constitution to create the legal framework required for states across the federation to establish and operate independent police structures alongside federal security agencies.

The latest development follows increasing calls for constitutional reforms that would allow state governments to take greater responsibility for security management within their territories amid rising concerns over insecurity across parts of the country.

President Tinubu has repeatedly advocated for decentralized policing, arguing that empowering states with their own police institutions would strengthen local security coordination and improve responses to threats such as terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and violent crimes.

Earlier in February 2026, the President urged the National Assembly to begin constitutional amendments necessary for the creation of state police, describing the reform as an important step toward addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

During his Democracy Day address earlier this month, Tinubu reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to confronting insecurity, stating that terrorists, armed bandits, and those sponsoring criminal activities would face the full force of the law.

He disclosed that security operations carried out over the past year had led to the neutralization of more than 13,000 terrorists, while terrorism-related deaths reportedly declined compared to previous years.

Despite progress recorded by security agencies, the President acknowledged that the continued abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states remains a serious concern and highlights the urgent need for broader security reforms.

The push for state police has gained momentum in recent months, with both chambers of the National Assembly already advancing discussions around constitutional amendments designed to decentralize policing powers currently controlled exclusively by the Federal Government.

The Senate is expected to reconvene for an emergency plenary session where lawmakers are likely to begin deliberations on the proposed legislation.

If passed, the bill would represent one of the most far-reaching constitutional and security reforms in Nigeria’s democratic history, potentially granting state governments greater authority to tackle local security threats through independently managed police structures.

Observers say the proposal could trigger significant national debate as policymakers weigh concerns around operational control, funding, accountability, and the broader implications of decentralized policing within Nigeria’s federal system.