RismadarVoice Reporters
October 23, 2026
Nigeria’s proposed constitutionl amendment to establish state police has reportedly secured the endorsement of 24 State Houses of Assembly, meeting the minimum state-level approval threshold required under the 1999 Constitution.
According to a report published by Vanguard on Friday, October 23, the development leaves 12 states yet to conclude consideration of the bill.
Section 9(2) of the Constitution requires amendments of this nature to receive support from at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, equivalent to 24 states.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish a decentralised policing framework that would allow state police services to operate alongside federal policing institutions.
The bill was transmitted to the state legislatures on September 16, 2026, after receiving approval from both chambers of the National Assembly.
States Reportedly Supporting the Bill
The 24 states identified in Vanguard’s latest report are Adamawa, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba and Zamfara.
Others are Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Abia, Yobe and Kaduna.
Several of these approvals have been independently documented through reports of proceedings in the respective state legislatures.
States Yet to Conclude Deliberations
The 12 states listed as awaiting approval are Lagos, Ondo, Ebonyi, Kogi, Niger, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano and Sokoto.
Further legislative action is expected as the remaining assemblies continue considering the proposal.
Supporters of state policing argue that decentralisation could improve responses to kidnapping, banditry and other security challenges by allowing security agencies to operate closer to affected communities.
However, the proposal has also generated concerns about funding, accountability, operational standards and the possibility of political interference in state-level law enforcement.
The proposed framework is intended to address these concerns through constitutional safeguards and coordination between federal and state policing institutions.
Although the reported endorsements represent a significant milestone, the National Assembly must still formally reconcile and process the states’ resolutions in accordance with the constitutional amendment procedure.
The reported achievement of the required threshold does not mean that state police formations have already been established.
Further official announcements are expected as the constitutional process advances.
