The state police action gained momentum when Tinubu submitted a constitutional amendment to the Senate

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a significant step towards restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture by sending a constitutional amendment bill calling for the creation of a state police to the Senate for legislative consideration.

The development was disclosed on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a plenary session, where he informed lawmakers that discussion of the proposed amendments would begin on Wednesday. According to him, the state government has also indicated its readiness to examine the proposal immediately after receiving the law.

This bill seeks to amend the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal basis for the establishment and operation of state-controlled police forces throughout the country. If approved, the proposal would represent one of the biggest changes to Nigeria’s police structure since the return of democratic rule.

This latest move is in line with President Tinubu’s long-standing advocacy for a decentralized security framework that would empower state governments to play a more active role in protecting lives and property in their areas of jurisdiction.

Earlier this year, the President urged the National Assembly to initiate constitutional changes that would pave the way for a state police force, arguing that the growing threat posed by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime requires a more localized and responsive policing system.

The push for reform also comes amid ongoing security challenges faced in various regions of the country. In his Democracy Day speech this month, Tinubu reiterated his government’s resolve to intensify the fight against criminal elements and their supporters.

He vowed that terrorists, bandits and those who sponsor their activities would face full punishment and stressed that the government would not show leniency towards individuals who threaten national security.

The President also highlighted the progress recorded by security agencies over the past year, stating that more than 13,000 terrorists have been eliminated while terrorism-related fatalities have decreased significantly compared to previous years.

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Despite these achievements, Tinubu acknowledged that incidents such as the ongoing abduction of school children in Oyo and Borno states underscore the need for continued efforts to address insecurity nationwide.

Momentum for state policing has continued to grow in recent months, with lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly advancing discussions on constitutional reforms designed to delegate certain policing responsibilities to state governments.

The Senate is expected to reconvene an emergency session to expedite consideration of the amendment bill, a move that could bring Nigeria closer to implementing security reforms that have been debated for years by policymakers, security experts and stakeholders across the federation.

If the proposal gains legislative support and is approved by the state assembly, it would mark a major shift in the state’s approach to law enforcement and internal security management.