President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the National Assembly to approve a constitutional amendment bill that would provide legal backing for the establishment of state police across the country.
The request was contained in a letter dated June 15, 2026, which was read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The proposed legislation, titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create a legal framework for a dual policing system involving both federal and state police structures.
According to President Tinubu, the bill is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and addressing the country’s evolving security challenges.
He explained that the proposal builds on previous efforts by both chambers of the National Assembly and introduces additional safeguards to ensure effective implementation of state policing.
“This bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and the Senate, and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges will be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians,” the President stated.
Tinubu further described the reform as a key component of his administration’s broader strategy to reorganize the nation’s security system and improve the protection of lives and property.
“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganize Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens, and I am confident that the Senate will act quickly to consider and pass this bill,” he added.
Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative consideration.
The committee has been directed to report back to the chamber on the next legislative day.
