State Police: 24 States Approve Bill As Lagos, 11 Others Delay Decision

State Police 24 States Approve Bill as Lagos, 11 Others Delay Decision

Twenty-four states have reportedly approved the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police in Nigeria, while Lagos and 11 other states are yet to make decisive progress on the measure. The development highlights the uneven pace of support for the proposed reform, which seeks to decentralise policing and give state governments greater responsibility for addressing insecurity within their territories. According to a report by Vanguard, nine northern states and two other southern states, alongside Lagos, are among those yet to move decisively on the proposed legislation. The state police proposal has remained a major issue in Nigeria’s security and constitutional reform debates, particularly amid persistent challenges involving banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, communal violence and other criminal activities across the country. Supporters of the reform argue that the establishment of state police would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community policing and enable security agencies to respond more quickly to local threats. They contend that a centralised policing structure places excessive demands on the Nigeria Police Force, limiting its ability to respond effectively to security challenges across the country’s diverse regions. Proponents also believe that state-controlled police formations would improve coordination between local communities and security operatives, given their familiarity with the terrain, language and social dynamics of the areas they serve. However, concerns remain over the potential misuse of state police by governors and other political officeholders. Critics have warned that without strong constitutional safeguards, independent oversight and clear accountability mechanisms, state police could be deployed against political opponents and perceived critics. Other concerns include funding, recruitment standards, operational independence and the need to ensure that state police formations complement rather than undermine the existing national security framework. The proposed amendment requires the necessary constitutional procedures to be completed before state police can be formally established. This includes the approval of the National Assembly and the required number of state Houses of Assembly, in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. The differing positions among the states therefore remain significant to the future of the reform, as proponents seek broader political consensus on the best way to restructure Nigeria’s policing system. The debate comes amid continued calls for comprehensive security reforms, with stakeholders urging governments at all levels to strengthen law enforcement, improve intelligence sharing and protect citizens’ rights.