State Police: 24 States Approve Constitutional Amendment as 12 Others Delay

Nigeria’s proposed state police system has reached a major legislative milestone, with 24 state Houses of Assembly reportedly approving the constitutional amendment. Twelve states are yet to conclude the process, raising fresh questions about the future of decentralised policing and security management in the country.

Nigeria’s long-running debate over the establishment of state police has reached a significant turning point, as 24 state Houses of Assembly have reportedly approved the proposed constitutional amendment to pave the way for the creation of state police services.

According to a report by Vanguard, the number of approving states has reached the constitutionally required threshold of 24, representing two-thirds of the 36 states in the federation.

The development marks an important step towards decentralising the country’s policing structure, a reform that supporters believe could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen community security and enable faster responses to local threats.

However, 12 states are still being awaited as deliberations continue across the country.The states that have reportedly approved the proposed constitutional amendment are:

1. Adamawa
2. Delta
3. Edo
4. Kwara
5. Nasarawa
6. Ogun
7. Osun
8. Oyo
9. Plateau
10. Rivers
11. Taraba
12. Zamfara
13. Enugu
14. Anambra
15. Imo
16. Ekiti
17. Kebbi
18. Akwa Ibom
19. Bayelsa
20. Benue
21. Cross River
22. Abia
23. Yobe
24. Kaduna

These approvals bring the proposal to the required two-thirds threshold of state legislatures under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

12 states yet to conclude the process

While the required number of approvals has reportedly been reached, the following states are still being awaited:

1. Lagos
2. Ondo
3. Ebonyi
4. Kogi
5. Niger
6. Borno
7. Gombe
8. Bauchi
9. Jigawa
10. Katsina
11. Kano
12. Sokoto

The outstanding states could still complete their deliberations and formally communicate their positions as the legislative process progresses.

Their decisions may also provide a clearer picture of the level of political and institutional support for decentralised policing across Nigeria.

Why the approval of 24 states matters

The approval of the required number of state legislatures represents a crucial stage in the constitutional amendment process.

Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution requires constitutional alterations to receive support from at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, alongside the applicable approval requirements in the National Assembly.

Meeting the state-level threshold therefore removes a major constitutional hurdle for the proposed reform. However, it does not, by itself, mean that state police have become operational. The relevant constitutional and legal procedures must still be completed before the proposed system can be implemented.

The development is particularly significant because Nigeria continues to face a range of security threats, including banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, communal violence and other forms of organised crime.

Supporters of state police argue that a more decentralised system could give states greater capacity to address security problems specific to their territories.

How state police could change Nigeria’s security system

Under the current policing structure, the Nigeria Police Force operates primarily as a national institution. Proponents of state police argue that a single centralised structure may struggle to respond adequately to security challenges across a country as large and diverse as Nigeria.

A properly designed state police system could allow state authorities to develop local intelligence networks, improve coordination with communities and deploy personnel more quickly to emerging threats.

It could also create additional policing capacity, particularly in rural communities and areas where residents complain about slow responses to criminal activity.

However, the success of such a reform would depend on more than the creation of new police commands.

Clear operational guidelines, adequate funding, professional training, effective oversight and strong accountability mechanisms would be necessary to ensure that state police services protect residents rather than serve narrow political interests.

Concerns over political interference and human rights

Despite the potential benefits, the proposal has generated concerns about the possible misuse of police powers by state governments.

Critics have warned that governors or other powerful political actors could attempt to influence investigations, intimidate opponents or use state police during elections if appropriate safeguards are not established.

There are also questions about funding disparities between states, recruitment standards, cooperation between federal and state police services, and the handling of crimes that cross state boundaries.

These issues will require careful attention in the legal and institutional framework governing the proposed system.

A successful transition would need to balance local responsiveness with national coordination, professional independence and respect for citizens’ fundamental rights.

What happens next?

With 24 states reportedly having approved the amendment, attention now shifts to the formal documentation and communication of the state legislatures’ resolutions, as well as the completion of any remaining constitutional requirements.

The 12 outstanding states may still conclude their deliberations, but the reported achievement of the two-thirds threshold is the central development in the latest update.

The precise implementation arrangements will depend on the final constitutional provisions and any supporting legislation required to establish and regulate state police services.

Until those steps are completed, the approval milestone should be understood as progress towards establishing state police, rather than confirmation that the new system is already operational.

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The reported approval of the state police constitutional amendment by 24 state Houses of Assembly represents a potentially historic development in Nigeria’s security reform efforts.

For supporters, it brings the country closer to a policing model that gives states greater responsibility for addressing local security challenges. For critics, it also underscores the need for strong safeguards against political interference, abuse of power and unequal policing standards.

Ultimately, the success of state police will depend on how effectively the authorities translate constitutional approval into a transparent, adequately funded and accountable system.

As Nigeria considers this major reform, the priority must remain clear: improving public safety, protecting citizens’ rights and building a policing structure capable of responding effectively to the country’s diverse security challenges.