NEWS
STATE POLICE BILL GAINS MOMENTUM AS 33 STATES REPORTEDLY ENDORSE CREATION, JUST THREE REMAIN
The push for the establishment of State Police in Nigeria appears to be gaining significant momentum, with 33 of the country’s 36 states reportedly endorsing the State Police creation bill, leaving only three states yet to give their approval, according to the latest roll call.
The reported endorsements represent approximately 92 per cent of Nigeria’s 36 states, signalling broad support across the country’s six geopolitical zones for a proposed restructuring of the nation’s policing architecture.
The development reflects growing interest in strengthening internal security, improving community-based policing, and enabling law enforcement agencies to respond more effectively to security challenges at the state and grassroots levels.
SOUTH-WEST: ALL SIX STATES ON BOARD:
All six states in the South-West geopolitical zone have reportedly endorsed the bill, representing 100 per cent support in the region.
The states are:
1. Lagos
2. Ogun
3. Osun
4. Oyo
5. Ondo
6. Ekiti
SOUTH-SOUTH: UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM SIX STATES:
The South-South region has also recorded full endorsement, with all six states reportedly backing the proposal.
The states are:
7. Edo
8. Delta
9. Rivers
10. Cross River
11. Akwa Ibom
12. Bayelsa
SOUTH-EAST: ALL FIVE STATES ENDORSE THE BILL:
The South-East has equally recorded unanimous support, with all five states in the region reportedly endorsing the creation of State Police.
The states are:
13. Anambra
14. Enugu
15. Imo
16. Abia
17. Ebonyi
NORTH-CENTRAL: FIVE OF SIX STATES REPORTEDLY SUPPORT THE BILL:
In the North-Central region, five of the six states have reportedly endorsed the proposal, with Niger State yet to join the list.
The supporting states are:
18. Kwara
19. Kogi
20. Benue
21. Plateau
22. Nasarawa
NORTH-EAST: FIVE OF SIX STATES REPORTEDLY ENDORSE THE PROPOSAL:
The North-East has also recorded five endorsements, with Bauchi State identified as the only state in the region yet to approve the bill.
The states listed as supporters are:
23. Adamawa
24. Taraba
25. Borno
26. Yobe
27. Gombe
NORTH-WEST: SIX OF SEVEN STATES REPORTEDLY BACK STATE POLICE:
In the North-West, six states have reportedly endorsed the proposal, leaving Katsina State as the only state in the region yet to join the supporting states.
The states are:
28. Kaduna
29. Kano
30. Kebbi
31. Jigawa
32. Zamfara
33. Sokoto
ONLY THREE STATES REMAIN ON THE OUTSIDE, ACCORDING TO THE ROLL CALL:
Based on the reported figures, the three states yet to endorse the State Police creation bill are:
– Niger State — North-Central
– Bauchi State — North-East
– Katsina State — North-West
Their positions leave the proposal with reported support from 33 states, or approximately 91.7 per cent of the federation’s 36 states.
WHAT STATE POLICE COULD MEAN FOR NIGERIA:
Proponents of State Police argue that decentralising policing could bring security institutions closer to the people, improve intelligence gathering, strengthen responses to local threats, and enable state governments to address security challenges specific to their territories.
However, the establishment of State Police would require appropriate constitutional and legislative changes, alongside safeguards to protect human rights, prevent political interference, ensure accountability, and maintain professional policing standards.
While the reported level of state support represents a significant development in the debate over policing reform, the precise legal and legislative status of each endorsement remains important. State-level endorsement of a proposal should not automatically be interpreted as the completion of the constitutional process required to establish State Police.
With only three states identified as yet to endorse the proposal, the reported roll call underscores the growing national conversation about the future of policing in Nigeria and the search for a more effective response to the country’s security challenges.