State Police Near Reality as Senate Moves to Fast-Track Constitutional Amendment

The Senate is set to take a decisive step toward the establishment of state police this week as lawmakers move to fast-track constitutional amendments aimed at addressing Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed that the National Assembly has resolved to isolate the state police proposal from other ongoing constitutional amendment bills to accelerate its passage and transmission to state legislatures for approval.

In a statement issued by his Media Directorate in Abuja on Monday, Bamidele said there is broad national consensus on the creation of state police, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors and key stakeholders backing the initiative.

According to him, the issue will dominate Senate proceedings during the legislative week beginning Tuesday.

“Our position is very clear on state police. We are standing with Nigerians on the issue of state police. All strata of the federation have made it clear that there cannot be a better time to establish a state police than now,” Bamidele said.

He noted that the National Assembly had concluded consultations and was prepared to translate the widespread demand for state policing into law.

“We came to the conclusion that we are going to pass the constitutional amendment in this respect to make a provision for the state police. If I can tell you as of today, that will come to fruition this very week because there is no need to allow any further delay,” he stated.

Bamidele explained that lawmakers would separate the bill from other constitutional amendment proposals to ensure a speedy legislative process.

“It is going to be the subject we will be dealing with this week. What we have resolved to do is to isolate it with the rest of the bills that we have proposed under constitutional amendment so that we can vote on this as soon as possible,” he said.

The Senate Leader added that once passed by the National Assembly, the bill would be transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, where it must secure approval from at least two-thirds of the legislatures before being forwarded to President Tinubu for assent.

“The president is also with us on this proposal. I am sure he cannot wait for the bill to come to him for assent. I am sure the majority of our governors are in support of this bill. The state assemblies are also waiting for this bill to come. We will initiate the proposal for the creation of state police within the week,” he added.

The renewed push for state police comes amid growing concerns over insecurity across several parts of the country, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence.

The proposal has long generated national debate, with supporters arguing that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering, response times and community-based security, while critics have raised concerns about possible political abuse by state governments.

The latest development follows earlier disclosures by Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, that President Tinubu would soon receive a comprehensive report on consultations surrounding the constitutional framework for the establishment of state police.

If successfully passed, the amendment would mark one of the most significant reforms to Nigeria’s security architecture since the return to democratic rule in 1999.