Nigeria’s plan to establish state police has advanced after a presidential working group submitted the draft National Policing Bill, 2026, to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The submission includes 29 consequential amendment bills intended to support the proposed changes to the country’s policing structure.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and chairman of the working group, announced the development on Tuesday, October 20.
According to the Presidency, the documents were submitted to the Attorney-General of the Federation on October 19 for legislative review and validation.
What Will the State Police Bill Change?
The proposed legislation seeks to establish two levels of policing in Nigeria: a Federal Police Service and State Police Services.
Under the proposed structure, states could have their own police services operating within a nationally regulated framework.
Supporters argue that local policing could improve intelligence gathering, emergency response and the ability to address security challenges specific to individual states.
However, the proposal also raises questions about recruitment, oversight, funding and safeguards against political interference.
The detailed legal and operational arrangements will depend on the final legislation.
Has State Police Been Approved?
No. The submission of the bill does not mean state police have become operational.
The Ministry of Justice is expected to return the validated documents to the presidential working group by October 30, 2026.
The working group will then consider the documents before presenting them to President Tinubu.
Constitutional amendments are also being considered by state legislatures.
Further constitutional and legislative steps are still required before a new policing system can take effect.
What Should Nigerians Watch Next?
The key developments to monitor are the Justice Ministry’s review, the constitutional amendment process and the eventual submission of the legislation to the National Assembly.
Nigerians will also need clarity on how state police officers would be recruited, funded and supervised.
Another important question is how the proposed services would coordinate with federal security agencies while protecting citizens’ rights.
The debate is likely to remain significant as Nigeria considers changes to its security architecture ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
