President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026 to the House of Representatives, seeking legislative approval to establish state police services across the country.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, the President said the proposed bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution by providing the legal framework for the creation and operation of state police as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security system.
Tinubu noted that the legislation builds on previous work already undertaken by the House of Representatives and introduces additional safeguards to ensure the successful implementation of a dual policing structure involving both federal and state police.
“I am delighted to present to the House of Representatives for consideration the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to create a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services,” the President stated.
He said the proposed constitutional amendment is aimed at addressing the country’s changing security challenges by creating a more effective and responsive policing system.
“This Bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians,” he said.
Tinubu described the bill as a vital part of his administration’s security reform agenda, expressing optimism that lawmakers would give it speedy consideration.
“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganize Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens and I am confident that the House of Representatives will act quickly to consider and pass this Bill,” Tinubu added.
The President urged members of the House to fast-track deliberations on the proposal, stressing that the constitutional amendment would play a significant role in improving public safety and strengthening the nation’s security architecture.
The transmission of the bill follows the recent passage of a similar constitutional amendment by the Senate, which approved the establishment of state police services after the proposal scaled its second and third readings.
The Senate considered the bill after Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele presented its general principles before lawmakers. It subsequently secured the support of more than two-thirds of senators, meeting the constitutional requirement for amendments to the 1999 Constitution.
With the bill now before the House of Representatives, the push for the establishment of state police has gained further momentum as part of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture and improve responses to security challenges across the federation.
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