Nigeria Senate to Pass State Police Bill Within a Week

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele announced that the Nigerian Senate will fast‑track a constitutional amendment to establish state police, aiming to pass the bill within the current week. The legislation will be isolated as a standalone measure and, once approved, will be sent to all 36 state Houses of Assembly for the two‑thirds approval required before presidential assent. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Attorney‑General, the Inspector‑General of Police and all state governors have expressed support for the proposal, which is presented as a response to the country's escalating security challenges. Stakeholder meetings involving senior lawmakers, the executive staff and security officials have been held to finalize the amendment, which seeks to decentralise policing and enhance local response capabilities.

If enacted, the amendment would mark a significant restructuring of Nigeria’s policing framework, aiming to improve intelligence gathering and rapid response to threats while raising concerns about potential political interference at the state level.