Nigeria’s House of Representatives passes a constitutional amendment bill that would establish state police, according to multiple reports. The measure is part of broader efforts to alter the 1999 Constitution to allow states to create and manage their own police forces and to formalize state and community policing structures. The bill described across outlets is framed as a constitutional amendment (the “Sixth Alteration” bill) titled to provide for the establishment of state police and related matters.
During a Thursday plenary session, lawmakers vote in favor of the state police proposal. One report says the vote records 289 members in attendance voting for the bill, with one member abstaining. Other reporting also indicates the House postpones consideration of additional constitutional amendments, deferring them for later debate and review.
While the sources describe the move as a step toward decentralizing Nigeria’s security framework, the reports consistently present it as an initial legislative approval through constitutional amendment procedures, with further steps expected as the process continues.
