President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to begin constitutional amendments that will allow each state to establish its own police force. He made this request during an interfaith breakfast meeting with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on 26 February 2026.

The President said the reform is necessary because insecurity across the country has grown more complex, including terrorism, banditry, and insurgency. He argued that decentralised policing will strengthen grassroots security and allow faster response to local threats within each state.

He also stated that state police would complement the existing federal police system rather than replace it. The goal is to improve intelligence gathering, community policing, and rapid intervention against criminals operating in forests and rural communities.

Several state governments have already expressed support, describing the proposal as a major structural reform that could transform Nigeria’s security architecture and improve long term national stability. The National Assembly is expected to deliberate on the constitutional and legislative framework required to implement the plan.