The House of Representatives has passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police across Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to reform its security architecture.
The announcement was made by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, following a voting session on the proposed constitutional amendments. According to the results, the bill received overwhelming support from lawmakers, with 289 members voting in favor, one member voting against, and no abstentions recorded. A total of 290 votes were cast.
The approval of the state police amendment represents one of the most consequential constitutional reforms considered by the National Assembly in recent years. Advocates of state policing have consistently argued that decentralizing law enforcement would enhance security, improve local intelligence gathering, and enable quicker responses to emerging threats across the country.
The passage of the bill by the House reflects growing support for a more localized policing system amid increasing security challenges in various parts of Nigeria. Supporters believe that state police will complement the existing federal policing structure and strengthen efforts to combat crime and insecurity.
In addition to approving the state police amendment, the House also resolved to defer consideration of several other constitutional amendment proposals to a future legislative session. Lawmakers stated that postponing the remaining bills would allow for further consultations and deliberations before final decisions are made.
The development is expected to generate nationwide discussions among stakeholders, including state governments, security experts, civil society organizations, and citizens, as the process of constitutional reform continues.
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The passage of the state police bill by the House of Representatives is being viewed as a major step toward restructuring Nigeria’s security framework and addressing longstanding concerns about policing effectiveness across the federation.
