The push to establish state police has suffered a major setback, with only five of Nigeria’s 36 state Houses of Assembly approving the constitutional amendment bill before the October 16 deadline.
The states that voted in favour are Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Zamfara, leaving the bill far short of the 24-state threshold required under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution for any constitutional alteration to be sent to the President for assent.
The National Assembly had transmitted the bill to state legislatures on September 16, 2026, after it was passed by the Senate on June 24 and the House of Representatives on July 23. The assemblies were given 30 days to take a position.
As of October 15, the remaining 31 states had not approved the bill. Many were still consulting stakeholders, reviewing the proposal, or had yet to schedule debates.
The bill seeks to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system by allowing states to establish their own police services to operate alongside the Federal Police Service. It also provides for state laws to regulate administration, oversight and accountability of the state police.
Edo was among the first to approve, with lawmakers saying local police would better address the state’s security challenges.
In Osun, legislators said state police would improve response times and formalise existing community policing structures.
Oyo lawmakers argued the state needs a security architecture that reflects its own realities rather than relying entirely on the federal force.
Rivers backed the bill amid persistent security concerns in the Niger Delta, aligning with longstanding demands from southern states for more control over local policing.
In Zamfara, which has suffered severe banditry, lawmakers said state police would enable faster deployment against localized threats.
While supporters believe state police will allow states to design security responses suited to their environments, critics warn the system could be abused by governors against political opponents.
With only five approvals recorded, the future of the amendment remains uncertain, as the House leadership is yet to issue a formal statement on the next steps.