The Federal Government has begun the process of developing the legal and operational framework for the implementation of state police.
It also announced a seven-week, milestone-driven programme to produce a comprehensive National Policing Bill that will guide the transition to a dual federal and state policing system.
Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this while addressing reporters on Monday in Abuja.
He explained that although the National Assembly had made significant progress on the constitutional amendment establishing state police, no state police service currently exists in Nigeria.
According to him, the Nigerian Police Force remains the country’s only constitutionally recognised policing institution until the constitutional process is completed.
Gbajabiamila said the Senate approved the constitutional proposal on June 24, 2026, while the House of Representatives passed the Executive State Police Bill on July 23, 2026.
However, he noted that the amendment would only become effective after securing the constitutionally required approval of state Houses of Assembly and the enactment of implementing legislation.
“There is no operational state police service anywhere in Nigeria today. The Nigerian Police Force remains the constitutionally recognised police institution.
“The constitutional amendment creates the authority and broad architecture for federal and state policing, but it does not by itself provide the complete operating framework,” he said.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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