On Tuesday, the Kano State House of Assembly voted to adopt a constitutional amendment that would grant Nigerian states the authority to create and run their own police forces, a move confirmed by Majority Leader Lawan Hussaini Dala during the plenary session.
Key details of the decision include: the amendment was discussed in the Committee of the Whole, covering clauses 1 through 26 of the proposed bill; the motion to refer the bill to that committee was passed before debate; and Dala publicly stated, “We have approved the constitutional review for the establishment of state police at plenary today.”
What changes does the amendment introduce?
The proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria seeks to insert provisions that explicitly empower each state government to establish and operate its own state police, thereby creating a parallel security structure to the federal Nigeria Police Force.
How was the bill processed?
The bill was first moved by a motion that ordered its consideration in the Committee of the Whole, where legislators examined each clause before returning to the plenary for a final vote. The committee’s review spanned clauses one to twenty‑six, after which the assembly proceeded to adopt the amendment.
Why is the proposal significant?
Proponents argue that devolving policing powers could improve response times, enhance community policing, and address security gaps that many Nigerians attribute to the centralized federal force. Critics, however, warn that multiple state forces might lead to coordination challenges, duplicate resources, and potential politicisation of law enforcement.
If the amendment is ratified by the required two‑thirds majority in both houses of the National Assembly and receives presidential assent, Nigerian states could begin drafting legislation to set up their own police agencies within the next legislative cycle.
The idea of state police is not new; previous bills were tabled in 2020 and 2022 but stalled due to concerns over constitutional compatibility and funding. The federal government has historically maintained a monopoly over policing, citing national unity and standardisation as reasons for a single force.
Stakeholders such as the Nigeria Police Force, civil society groups, and security experts have been invited to submit position papers before the amendment proceeds to the national level, ensuring that the debate incorporates diverse perspectives on public safety and constitutional law.