The Senate has outlined a series of safeguards aimed at preventing state governors from abusing state police powers as the Red Chamber passed constitutional amendments to establish decentralised policing across Nigeria.
Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele disclosed the measures while leading debate on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alteration (State Police) Bill, 2026, on Wednesday. The bill was passed following rigorous clause-by-clause consideration and a manual voting process where more than two-thirds of senators voted in support.
It now requires passage by the House of Representatives, presidential assent, and approval by a majority of state Houses of Assembly to become law.
Bamidele said the bill, submitted by President Bola Tinubu, seeks to create a decentralised policing structure while ensuring governors cannot deploy state police for “partisan, ethnic, religious, sectional, or personal purposes.”
The federal police will retain responsibility for counter-terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, border security, and interstate criminal activities, while state police will enforce state laws, maintain public safety, and prevent crimes within their jurisdiction.
Federal intervention in state security matters will only be activated during a breakdown of public order, when a state police service is incapable of functioning, or when national security is under threat — and only after the President authorises it in writing, subject to Senate oversight and judicial review.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who initially opposed state police, said prevailing security challenges made it necessary. Former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno also backed the proposal.
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