June 13, 2026
Aziken
The renewed push for state police in Nigeria has come at a time when the country is bleeding from many fronts. From kidnappings to banditry, cult violence, communal clashes, terrorism, separatist agitation and urban crime, the centralised police structure has become overstretched.
The House of Representatives, on June 11, 2026, passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to allow Nigeria’s 36 states establish their own police forces, a major step in a debate that has lasted for decades.
Supporters say the reform will bring policing closer to the people, improve intelligence gathering and quicken response to emergencies. Critics fear it may hand governors a dangerous instrument of coercion.
