The Nigerian Senate is expected to vote on the proposed creation of State Police Services today after President Bola Tinubu transmitted a constitutional amendment bill to the National Assembly.
The proposed reform has renewed debate among security experts, former military officers, and retired police chiefs over how much authority governors should have over state police operations.
Supporters argue that decentralising policing would improve security, intelligence gathering, and response to crimes such as terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry. Critics warn that strong safeguards are needed to prevent political abuse.
Retired Brigadier General Peter Aro said state police should be treated as a security reform rather than a political project, adding that governors should have enough power to address local security challenges while operating under clear legal limits.
Retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Ali Amodu said governors would naturally have influence over state police because they would be responsible for funding and maintaining the service.
However, retired AIG Wilson Inalegwu expressed concerns about giving governors excessive control, saying strong oversight mechanisms must be created to prevent misuse of police powers.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged lawmakers to attend the session, describing the proposed amendment as one of the most important constitutional decisions in Nigeria’s democratic history.
The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow the establishment of state police alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.
For the amendment to become law, it must pass through the Senate and House of Representatives, receive approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly, and then be signed by the President.
If approved, the reform would represent Nigeria’s biggest change to its policing structure since independence.
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