Rivers Assembly approves State Police bill

The Rivers State House of Assembly has reportedly endorsed the constitutional amendment required to establish state police services in Nigeria, advancing the proposal’s consideration at the state level.

The amendment seeks to alter the 1999 Constitution to provide for a dual policing structure, under which states could establish their own police services while the Nigeria Police Force continues to operate at the federal level.

The Rivers Assembly’s endorsement comes after the National Assembly transmitted the State Police Bill to all 36 state legislatures for consideration and approval.

The National Assembly stated that the bill was sent to the state Houses of Assembly on September 16, 2026. At least 24 state assemblies must approve the amendment before it can proceed to the next stage.

The proposed framework would allow participating states to create and maintain their own police services, while the federal police would retain responsibility for national-level security matters.

The amendment process is part of a broader effort to change Nigeria’s existing centralized policing structure.

The bill also proposes safeguards intended to prevent state police authorities from being used to target people or groups for criticizing state governments.

The proposal has drawn attention from political and security stakeholders, with discussions focusing on its possible impact on local policing, oversight, funding, and accountability.

The constitutional amendment still requires approval from the prescribed number of state legislatures before it can be forwarded to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.