The Federal Government starts developing the legal and operational framework required to implement state police in Nigeria. According to officials, the government has also launched a seven-week, milestone-driven programme aimed at producing a comprehensive National Policing Bill to guide the transition to a dual federal and state policing system.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill and Chief of Staff to the President, says while the National Assembly has made progress on constitutional amendments to establish state police, no state police service exists in the country at present. He states that the Nigerian Police Force remains the only constitutionally recognised policing institution until the constitutional process is fully completed.
Gbajabiamila notes that the Senate approved the constitutional proposal on June 24, 2026, and the House of Representatives passed the Executive State Police Bill on July 23, 2026. He adds that the amendment is not effective until it receives required approval from state Houses of Assembly and relevant implementing legislation is enacted.
