President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Sends State Police Bill To Senate

According to Ireporter Online, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill to the Senate seeking the establishment of state police as part of ongoing efforts to overhaul Nigeria’s security architecture.

The proposed legislation aims to amend key provisions of the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the creation of state-controlled police formations across the federation. The initiative is designed to strengthen internal security by allowing states to play a more direct role in policing their territories.

The development follows Tinubu’s repeated calls for constitutional reforms, including an earlier appeal to the National Assembly in February for the creation of state police to help address rising threats such as terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes.

During his Democracy Day address, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity, warning that terrorists, bandits, and their sponsors would face the full weight of the law. He also disclosed that over 13,000 terrorists had been neutralised within the past year, noting a significant decline in terrorism-related deaths compared to previous years.

However, Tinubu acknowledged that the continued captivity of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo and Borno States remains a painful reminder of the country’s persistent security challenges.

The state police proposal has gained increased momentum in recent months, with both chambers of the National Assembly progressing constitutional amendment processes aimed at decentralising policing powers.

The Senate is expected to reconvene for an emergency plenary session to deliberate on the bill, which is being described as one of the most significant security reform proposals in Nigeria’s democratic history. If approved, it would enable the establishment of state police forces operating alongside federal security agencies under a clearly defined constitutional framework.