The Nigerian Senate approved a bill on June 24, 2026 [1], allowing the nation's 36 states [2] to create their own police forces.

This legislative shift represents a fundamental change in Nigeria's security architecture. By decentralizing policing, the government aims to address systemic failures in the current centralized model that has struggled to contain widespread violence and kidnapping.

The decision follows a period of escalating insecurity across the region. Officials said there is a need for localized security responses to tackle the crisis, which was recently highlighted by a mass school abduction in the southwest [3]. The current centralized system often lacks the local intelligence and rapid deployment capabilities necessary to prevent such attacks.

Under the new bill, each of the 36 states [2] will have the legal authority to establish and manage its own police force. This move is intended to bring security personnel closer to the communities they serve, potentially reducing response times and improving trust between citizens and law enforcement.

The bill was passed during sessions at the National Assembly in Abuja [3]. While the Senate has given its approval, the transition to state-level policing will require significant coordination regarding funding, training, and the division of jurisdiction between state and federal authorities.

Supporters of the reform said the federal police force is overstretched and unable to monitor the vast geography of the country effectively. Localized forces are expected to be more attuned to the specific security threats facing individual states, ranging from banditry in the north to kidnapping in the south [3].

“The Nigerian Senate approved a bill on June 24, 2026, allowing the nation's 36 states to create their own police forces.”

The move toward state police marks a pivot from a centralized command structure to a federalized security model. While intended to increase efficiency and local accountability, the success of the reform depends on whether states can maintain professional standards without the forces becoming tools for local political leaders. It also creates a complex legal landscape regarding how federal and state police will collaborate during cross-border crimes.