President Bola Tinubu has formally asked the Senate to approve a constitutional amendment bill aimed at establishing state police across Nigeria, in a move designed to strengthen the nation’s security architecture.
The request was contained in a letter dated June 15, 2026, and read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In the correspondence, Tinubu said the proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) State Police Bill, 2026, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the creation of state police services.
The president said the bill is intended to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges by introducing a dual policing structure that would allow federal and state police systems to operate within a constitutional framework.
Highlighting the importance of the proposal, Tinubu said: “This bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and the Senate, and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges, will be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians.”
According to the president, the proposal builds on previous legislative efforts by both chambers of the National Assembly while introducing additional safeguards to ensure smooth and effective implementation.
Tinubu described the proposed legislation as a critical part of his administration’s wider security reform agenda aimed at improving the protection of lives and property across the country.
“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganize Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens, and I’m confident that the Senate will act quickly to consider and pass this bill,” he added.
The president urged lawmakers to give the bill expeditious consideration.
Following the reading of the letter, Akpabio referred the proposal to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative action.
The committee was directed to report back to the chamber on the next legislative day.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
