Tinubu seeks Senate support for state police and pushes for amendment to Constitution

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally asked the Senate to pass a constitutional amendment bill to establish the state police, in what could mark a major shift in Nigeria’s security landscape.

The request was conveyed in a letter dated June 15, 2026 and read on the floor of the Red Chamber by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday.

The bill, titled Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Act, 2026, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create a legal basis for state-controlled policing systems alongside the existing federal structure.

Tinubu, in the correspondence, said the bill is designed to address Nigeria’s growing security challenges by introducing a dual policing architecture that allows both federal and state police to operate within a coordinated constitutional framework.

He noted that the proposal builds on the National Assembly’s previous efforts, adding that new safeguards have been incorporated to ensure effective implementation and prevent abuse.

“This bill builds on the important work already done… and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving security challenges will be achieved quickly and effectively,” the President said.

The President described the bill as a key component of his administration’s broader strategy to reform the country’s security architecture and improve the protection of lives and property nationwide.

He expressed confidence that the Senate will expedite consideration and passage of the bill.

After reading the letter, Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on the Revision of the Constitution for further legislative consideration, ordering the committee to report to the House on the next legislative day.

The move signals renewed momentum for state policing, a long-debated issue in Nigeria’s governance and security discourse, amid lingering concerns about insecurity in various parts of the country.

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