Twelve States Delay Approval of State Police Bill Reform

As of now, twelve State Houses of Assembly, including those in Lagos, Kano, and Ondo, have not approved the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police. In contrast, 24 states have endorsed the reform, surpassing the two-thirds approval required from the 36 state legislatures.

The other states yet to approve are Ebonyi, Kogi, Niger, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, and Sokoto. The Senate passed the proposed amendment on 24 June 2026, followed by the House of Representatives on 23 July.

The National Assembly transmitted the proposal to state assemblies on 16 September, requesting resolutions within 30 days, although this was an administrative target rather than a constitutional deadline. Barrister Yomi Ogunsanya, a Lagos-based lawyer, emphasized the need for constitutional safeguards to prevent potential abuse of state police powers by governors if the proposal is enacted.

The legislative process must still be completed before the state policing framework can take effect.