Rivers State House of Assembly approves state police bill

The Rivers State House of Assembly has unanimously approved the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026. This constitutional amendment seeks to establish a legal framework for the creation of State Police Services across Nigeria.

All 25 members of the Assembly voted in favor of the bill following consultations with their constituents. Speaker Martins Amaewhule noted that the decision supports efforts to improve the security of lives and property by allowing subnational policing to complement the existing Federal Police Service.

Under the proposed framework, the Federal Police would remain the default service in any state until a State Police Service is lawfully established and certified as operational. The amendment also empowers the National Assembly to prescribe national minimum policing standards to ensure civilian control, human rights protections, and operational independence.