State police one signature away as 28 state assemblies back the amendment

Nigeria has moved a big step closer to having police forces run by the states. Twenty-eight of the country's 36 state Houses of Assembly have now voted for the constitutional amendment that would allow it.

Kamoru Ogunlana, who heads the National Assembly's administration as its Clerk, confirmed the figure on Tuesday, 3 November. Any change to the constitution needs the backing of at least two-thirds of the states, which is 24, so the bill has cleared that bar comfortably.

The proposal, formally the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, would create State Police Services alongside the Nigeria Police Force. It was sent to the states on 16 September, and they were given 30 days to respond.

The National Assembly says work has begun to forward the bill to President Bola Tinubu for his assent. No date has been given. The clerk's office says it will still accept reports from the remaining states until the bill leaves its hands.

Supporters of state police say officers recruited locally will know their areas better and respond faster to kidnapping, banditry and other crimes. Critics have long worried that governors could misuse such forces against opponents.