President Bola Tinubu has taken the first step toward letting states run their own police. On Monday, June 23, 2026, he sent a constitutional amendment bill to the Senate to make it happen.
The bill wants to change the 1999 Constitution so state governments can set up and manage their own police services. These state forces would work alongside the Nigeria Police Force, not replace it.
Senate sources confirmed they received the bill and plan to give it a first reading when lawmakers reconvene. After that, debate will follow normal legislative steps.
For 27 years, only the federal government has controlled policing in Nigeria. If this bill becomes law, that will change. Nigeria would have a two-level system: federal police for national issues, state police for local security.
Many Nigerians back the idea. They argue that state police will understand local communities better, gather intelligence faster, and respond quickly when crime or attacks happen. With insecurity rising in several parts of the country, that kind of speed matters.
But others are cautious. Their worry is simple: what if governors misuse the new power? Critics fear state police could be used against political opponents, interfere in elections, or worsen tensions between regions.
Because this is a constitutional change, the process is long. The bill needs approval from at least two-thirds of both the Senate and House of Representatives. Then it must go to the 36 state Houses of Assembly, where 24 states must vote yes before President Tinubu can sign it.
The Senate says it will hold public hearings and speak with stakeholders before any vote. Lawmakers are calling it one of the boldest security reforms Nigeria has debated in years.