Senate pledges to deliver state police by year end

The Nigerian Senate has pledged to complete the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the creation of state police before the end of 2026.

Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, noted that the upper chamber would resume work on the constitutional review immediately plenary reconvenes next week. He assured Nigerians that the amendment process would be concluded before political campaigns begin ahead of the next general election.

The move follows a request by President Bola Tinubu urging the National Assembly to amend the constitution to incorporate state police as part of efforts to address worsening insecurity across the country.

Speaking during an interfaith Iftar at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu asked lawmakers to consider how best to amend the constitution to allow states to establish their own police forces to better secure communities and forests. He also cautioned members of the House of Representatives to ensure the proposed amendment includes safeguards to prevent potential abuse by state governors.

Adaramodu said significant groundwork had already been done before attention shifted to the electoral amendment bill, which has now been signed into law. He noted that consultations had been held nationwide, including stakeholder meetings across geopolitical zones, and that the committee handling the review had compiled its findings.

“We are going to expeditiously treat the matter and conclude it before electioneering begins,” he said, adding that once passed, the amendment would be forwarded to the president for assent.

Meanwhile, key stakeholders have called for strong constitutional safeguards to prevent the misuse of state police powers.

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere warned that without clear oversight mechanisms, governors could exploit state police formations for political purposes.

MACBAN National President, Baba Ngelzarma, acknowledged that decentralising policing could help address manpower shortages but stressed that recruitment must reflect ethnic and religious diversity to prevent domination by any group. He also urged lawmakers to empower the Federal Government and the National Assembly to supervise state police operations and impose penalties for abuse.

Similarly, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said while state police was necessary given rising localised crimes, the amendment must include provisions allowing citizens to challenge any misuse of power in court.

An All Progressives Congress chieftain, Ayodele Arise, also backed the proposal, suggesting that Section 214 of the Constitution be amended to move policing to the Concurrent List. He argued that such a change would allow both federal and state governments to operate separate police forces while maintaining oversight structures to curb potential abuse.

The proposed reform marks one of the most significant constitutional changes under consideration, as lawmakers seek to balance decentralised security with accountability and national cohesion.