Nigerian Senate passes historic state police bill

• The Nigerian Senate passed a bill to establish state police in the country's 36 states on June 24, 2026.
• The legislation, if enacted, would mark a significant shift from the decades-old structure of the Nigeria Police Force to a dual model comprising Federal and State Police Services.
• If enacted, each state would establish its own police service, working in tandem with the federal force, addressing long-standing concerns about policing effectiveness.

Nigeria had regional police before a central police force.

The Nigerian Senate has made history by passing a bill to establish state police in the country's 36 states. The executive bill, sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, marks a significant shift from the decades-old structure of the Nigeria Police Force. On June 24, 2026, lawmakers voted in favor of the legislation, which, if it becomes law, would pave the way for the creation of a dual model comprising the Federal Police Service and State Police Services. This move is seen as a response to the failures of the federal police force, which has struggled to maintain law and order across the vast country.

Nigeria's history with regional police dates back to before the establishment of the central police force. Saheed Balogun Amusa, a police historian, notes that the country had a decentralized policing system in place until the 1930s, when the British colonial authorities introduced a centralized force. The Nigeria Police Force has since been criticized for its inability to effectively manage security across the country's diverse regions. The new legislation aims to address these challenges by allowing each state to establish its own police service, working in tandem with the federal force.

The passage of this bill has significant implications for policing structures and compliance in Nigeria. Lawyers will need to closely monitor developments as states begin to implement their new police services, which may require updates to existing policies and procedures. The dual model promises to bring law enforcement closer to the people, addressing long-standing concerns about the effectiveness of the federal force. However, there are also concerns about the potential for duplication of efforts and conflicting jurisdictions between state and federal authorities.

Lawyers should watch for potential implications on policing structures and compliance with the new dual model, which may require updates to existing policies and procedures.

Source: Original reporting via The Conversation Africa