Opeyemi Bamidele Announces Progress on State Police Bill

The National Assembly has commenced the process of establishing state police by collating reports from State Houses of Assembly. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele stated that the constitutional requirement has been met, with at least 30 state legislatures approving the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill, 2026.

This surpasses the required two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly. Bamidele, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, indicated that the National Assembly aims to complete the legislative processes by December 2026.

He explained that the next steps involve considering the reports from the state legislatures, passing a resolution by a simple majority in both chambers, and then transmitting the bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent. The proposed state police system is part of efforts to decentralize Nigeria's security architecture amid ongoing violent crimes, with proponents arguing it would enhance local intelligence and accountability.