State police amendment crosses 24-state threshold as 28 assemblies approve

A constitutional amendment to create state police forces in Nigeria has secured approval from 28 state legislatures. The National Assembly said on Tuesday that the number exceeds the 24-state threshold required for constitutional change.

The approval moves the proposed reform closer to becoming law. It would allow individual states to establish and control their own police forces in a country where policing is currently managed by a single federal force. The reform would be one of the most significant changes to Nigeria's security framework in recent years.

Approval process

The 28 approvals exceed the constitutional requirement of 24 states, equivalent to two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states. National Assembly Clerk Kamoru Ogunlana said the legislature had verified the authenticity of the approvals and the accompanying legislative records.

Key points: 28 state legislatures approved the amendment; the threshold is 24 states; Nigeria has 36 states; the National Assembly has verified the approvals and legislative records.

Next step

The legislation will now be prepared for transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

Why supporters back it

Supporters of the reform argue that establishing state police forces would improve responses to local security threats. They say decentralising policing powers would allow state authorities to address security challenges within their jurisdictions.