Nigeria has moved closer to a major transformation of its security system after lawmakers advanced a constitutional amendment that would allow states to establish and operate their own police forces. The proposed reform is being described as one of the country’s biggest security changes since the return to democracy in 1999.
The move is coming amid the growing concerns over rising insecurity, including bandit attacks, kidnappings, terrorism, and violent crime across different regions of the country. Supporters of state policing argue that a more decentralized system would allow the security agencies to respond faster to local threats and improve intelligence gathering because officers would have a stronger knowledge of the communities they serve.
The proposed amendment seeks to allow Nigeria’s 36 states to create their own police structures while maintaining the existing federal police system. The bill must still complete further constitutional approval processes, including endorsement by a required number of state assemblies before it can become law.
The reform has received support from several government officials and security stakeholders who believe the current centralized policing structure has struggled to keep up with Nigeria’s complex security challenges. Federal authorities have also described state police as a key part of efforts to improve national security and bring law enforcement closer to citizens.
However, the proposal has also raised concerns among critics who fear that state police forces could be misused for political purposes by state governments. Others question whether some states have enough resources, funding, and oversight systems to maintain effective and accountable security institutions.
For millions of Nigerians facing security challenges daily, this reform is a major test of whether a new approach can deliver faster protection and restore confidence in the country’s security system.
