The proposed introduction of state police in Nigeria has crossed a major constitutional hurdle with 24 State Houses of Assembly approving the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, paving the way for the establishment of a dual policing system.
The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, in a statement on Friday, said the approvals met the constitutional requirement of at least two-thirds of the 36 state assemblies.
The group, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, commended the state legislatures for their support for the reform, while acknowledging the National Assembly for passing the amendment in both chambers.
According to the statement, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent, in accordance with Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
It added that the legislative approval provides the constitutional foundation for the proposed dual policing framework, which the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, is designed to operationalise.
The working group disclosed that its draft bills were undergoing legislative drafting review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice and were expected to be returned on or before Friday, October 30, 2026.
The group said it would give the bills final consideration upon their return before presenting them to the President.
It urged stakeholders to support a smooth transition to a dual policing system, expressing confidence that the reform would strengthen policing and improve the safety and security of Nigerians.
Similarly, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the anticipated establishment of state police will expand the responsibilities of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), requiring increased resource mobilisation and logistical support to strengthen policing in the state.
Sanwo-Olu spoke on Thursday at the commissioning of a permanent office building donated to the LSSTF by philanthropist, Sir Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu.
The governor said the proposed state police would place additional demands on the fund, which mobilises voluntary contributions from individuals and corporate organisations to support security agencies.
He urged the LSSTF board and management to develop innovative funding strategies to ensure that Lagos could adequately equip and support its proposed police formation when the initiative became operational.
“We need to ensure that we are creative, think outside the box and bring resources together to make sure that Lagos State has one of the best state police formations in the country,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the move towards state police, describing it as an opportunity for states to strengthen their security architecture.
He also assured existing police formations that the transition would be managed through collaboration, without unnecessary disruption or fears of job losses.
The governor said the state government would continue to support security agencies while encouraging the private sector and residents to contribute to the collective responsibility of protecting lives and property.
Sanwo-Olu said the donations demonstrated the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing security challenges, stressing that government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of ensuring public safety.
He urged wealthy individuals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to emulate the philanthropist by supporting security initiatives.
The Guardian
