Nigeria's House of Representatives has passed a constitutional amendment bill to establish state police in the country. The bill, titled "A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Establishment of State Police and for Related Matters (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026," was approved during consideration at the Committee of the Whole.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced that 289 members voted in favor of the bill, while only one member voted against it. The federal lawmakers also decided to postpone other constitutional amendments to another legislative session.
The passage of the state police bill marks a significant step in Nigeria's policing reform efforts. The bill now moves to the next stage of the legislative process, where it will be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.
This development comes amid growing calls for decentralized policing to address security challenges across the country. The establishment of state police is expected to enhance local security responses and bring policing closer to communities.
