Nigeria is on the cusp of overhauling its policing structure after 25 state legislatures endorsed a constitutional amendment that would permit the creation of state police forces, bringing the nation nearer to a decentralized security framework. The amendment, first passed by the Senate in June and the House of Representatives in July, now satisfies the two‑thirds threshold required for state‑level approval.
**What does the amendment change?**
The proposal seeks to shift policing from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list, meaning both the [National Assembly](https://www.nass.gov.ng/) and state assemblies could legislate on policing matters. Under the new arrangement, the federal [Nigeria Police Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_Police_Force) would continue policing a state until that state establishes its own police body, after which the state force would assume full responsibility for local security.
**Which states have signed on?**
The approving states are Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Kwara, Adamawa, Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Zamfara, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba, Yobe and Kebbi. Their collective endorsement pushes the count past the constitutional minimum of 24 state assemblies needed for the amendment to advance.
**What are the provisions for federal involvement?**
The amendment allows limited federal intervention in state police operations under specific conditions, such as a severe breakdown of law and order beyond a state’s capacity, a formal request for assistance by a state governor, or situations where a state police force cannot function due to administrative or financial challenges.
**What are the next steps?**
Having cleared the state‑assembly hurdle, the amendment now returns to the [National Assembly](https://www.nass.gov.ng/) for the remaining legislative procedures. Once completed, it will be forwarded to [President Bola Tinubu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bola_Tinubu) for presidential assent, as mandated by the [Constitution of Nigeria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Nigeria).
The Presidential Working Group on Police Reform indicated that the accompanying National Policing Bill will soon be tabled before the National Assembly, aiming to complement the constitutional change and drive a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s policing system. This dual‑track approach is intended to clarify the division of responsibilities between federal and state police while preserving a mechanism for federal support in extraordinary security crises.