Ekiti, Benue, Imo, Anambra Pass State Police Bill As States Back Decentralised Policing

Ekiti, Benue, Imo, Anambra Pass State Police Bill as States Back Decentralised Policing The push to establish state police in Nigeria has gained further momentum, with the Ekiti, Benue, Imo and Anambra State Houses of Assembly approving a proposed constitutional amendment to allow states to establish their own police services. The approvals form part of wider efforts to decentralise policing and strengthen responses to Nigeria’s security challenges, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, communal violence and other criminal activities. The Guardian reported on Thursday that the four assemblies had endorsed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, which seeks to establish the constitutional framework for state police. In Ekiti State, all 21 lawmakers present supported the bill during plenary in Ado Ekiti. Speaker Adeoye Aribasoye subsequently directed the Clerk of the House to transmit the document, alongside the assembly’s observations, to the National Assembly. Aribasoye said the proposal had remained a subject of national debate for more than two decades, adding that a properly structured state police system could improve security responses and bring policing closer to communities. The Benue State House of Assembly also passed the bill following deliberations led by Majority Leader Peter Ipusu. Speaker Alfred Emberga presided over the plenary at which lawmakers endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment.

Ipusu argued that decentralised policing could improve intelligence gathering at the grassroots and strengthen responses to rural banditry, farmer-herder conflicts and urban crime. In Imo State, lawmakers approved the proposed constitutional alteration following a motion moved by the House Majority Leader, Kanayo Onyemaechi, representing Owerri West. Onyemaechi said the assembly was fulfilling its constitutional responsibility by considering the proposal, noting that insecurity remained a major concern requiring urgent attention. Similarly, the Anambra State House of Assembly passed the bill through its first, second and third readings during plenary in Awka. The lawmakers adopted the measure through a voice vote under the leadership of Speaker Somtochukwu Udeze. The proposed framework would allow states to establish their own police services, subject to constitutional provisions and national standards prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly. The passage of the bill by individual state assemblies does not automatically establish state police. The proposal must satisfy the constitutional amendment requirements before it can become law. Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional alteration requires approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly

a minimum of 24 states before it can proceed to the final stages of the amendment process. The Guardian reported that 13 states had approved the bill at the time of its report, although subsequent reports on October 22 put the number of states backing the proposal at 15 following additional endorsements. The approvals reflect growing legislative support for the proposed reform, but the constitutional threshold remains a key requirement. The proposed framework is expected to provide for a dual policing structure, with the Nigeria Police Force continuing to operate alongside state police services. It also envisages safeguards covering civilian oversight, human rights, independent police service commissions, intergovernmental cooperation, criminal information systems and firearms control. Supporters argue that state police could improve local intelligence, reduce response times and enable security agencies to address threats based on the specific needs of individual communities. However, the proposal has also raised concerns about possible political interference and the risk of governors using state-controlled police forces against political opponents or critics. The debate has therefore focused not only on whether state police should be established, but also on the safeguards, accountability mechanisms and operational standards needed to prevent abuse. The latest approvals add to the ongoing constitutional process, as state legislatures consider whether a decentralised policing structure could complement federal security operations and improve public safety across Nigeria.