The Delta State House of Assembly approved the proposed constitutional amendment on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, supporting the establishment of state police services alongside the existing federal police structure.
The decision was unanimous among the 23 lawmakers present during plenary, presided over by Speaker Emomotimi Guwor.
According to Punch’s report, Guwor described the approval as an important step towards improving security at the community level, strengthening intelligence gathering and enabling quicker responses to threats.
He argued that a decentralised policing system could improve public safety and create a more secure environment for investment and development in Delta State.
Following the vote, the Assembly directed its Clerk to communicate the resolution to the National Assembly for further legislative action.
However, the approval does not mean Delta State can immediately establish its own police force. Several constitutional and operational requirements must still be completed.
Why Nigeria is considering state police
Nigeria currently operates a centralised policing system in which the Nigeria Police Force is controlled at the federal level.
Under this arrangement, state governors are constitutionally designated as chief security officers of their states, but they do not exercise full operational control over the police commands responsible for law enforcement within their territories.
The arrangement has generated years of debate, particularly as communities face kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other security challenges.
Supporters of state policing argue that a locally controlled police service would better understand the communities it protects, respond more quickly to emergencies and gather intelligence through stronger relationships with residents.
The proposed reform would change Nigeria’s policing structure by allowing states to establish their own services while retaining a federal police institution.
According to the Presidential Working Group’s official information portal, federal police would remain responsible for matters involving national security and offences extending beyond individual states, while state police would handle designated local responsibilities.
This would create two levels of policing operating under a common constitutional framework rather than eliminating the federal police.
How many states must approve the bill?
The constitutional amendment has already passed the National Assembly.
The Senate approved the proposal on June 24, 2026, followed by the House of Representatives on July 23.
On September 16, the National Assembly transmitted the amendment to the 36 state legislatures for their consideration.
Under Section 9 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, an amendment requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the country’s state Houses of Assembly.
That means 24 of the 36 states must approve the proposal before the constitutional amendment process can advance to its final stages.
Before Delta’s vote, several states, including Edo, Oyo, Osun, Rivers and Zamfara, had reportedly approved the bill.
However, the proposal had not reached the required national threshold, and an updated official tally incorporating Tuesday’s decision was not yet available.
Even after the constitutional process is completed, individual states would need additional legislation and operational approval before their police services could begin functioning.
What would prevent governors from abusing state police?
One of the strongest objections to state police is the possibility that governors could use officers to intimidate political opponents, interfere with elections or suppress public criticism.
There are also concerns about whether financially weaker states could adequately fund recruitment, salaries, training and equipment.
The proposed constitutional amendment includes safeguards intended to prevent political interference and protect citizens’ rights.
Under the proposed framework published by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, state police commissioners would be appointed through a process involving governors, the National Police Council and confirmation by state legislatures.
The proposal also seeks to restrict the use of police powers for unlawful or partisan purposes.
But constitutional protections alone cannot guarantee accountability.
Their effectiveness would depend on independent oversight, proper funding, professional training, functioning complaints systems and credible enforcement of the law.
The Federal Government says another policing bill is nearly ready
The constitutional amendment is only one part of the wider police reform programme.
On October 15, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced that a separate National Policing Bill was approximately 90% complete.
According to the Presidency’s official statement, the Presidential Working Group expects to transmit the legislation to the National Assembly within two weeks.
The proposed law would establish operational standards covering recruitment, training, financing, coordination between federal and state police, and mechanisms for investigating misconduct.
It would also determine when a state police service is considered sufficiently prepared to begin operations.
This means establishing state police would involve more than giving governors authority over additional security personnel.
It would require states to demonstrate that they can operate an accountable and financially sustainable policing institution.
What this means for Nigerians
Delta’s approval adds momentum to one of Nigeria’s most significant proposed security reforms in decades.
If successfully implemented, state policing could give communities more locally responsive law enforcement and enable authorities to address threats without relying exclusively on a centrally managed police structure.
However, the reform also introduces important questions about political independence, funding inequalities and the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights.
For residents, the real measure of success would be whether policing becomes more effective, accessible and accountable.
State police may bring law enforcement closer to Nigerians, but proximity alone will not guarantee better security. The institutions created must also be capable of protecting citizens without becoming instruments of political power.
