24 States Approve State Police Constitutional Amendment, Meeting Two-Thirds Threshold

Approved states so far (24): Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

Oyo Security Operatives Arrest Suspected Kidnapper After Victim Escapes

Scheduled for Plenary (1)
Kano

Committee Review (2)
Bauchi, Katsina

Received (6)
Abia, Borno, Ebonyi, Kogi, Ondo, Sokoto

No Public Update
Jigawa, Lagos, Niger

What Happens Next

1. Complete the Constitutional Amendment
With 24 State Houses of Assembly having approved, the resolutions are sent back to the National Assembly. Once confirmed, the amendment proceeds for presidential assent. This creates the constitutional basis for State Police Services alongside a Federal Police Service.

2. Finalise and Pass the National Policing Bill
The draft National Policing Bill (and related consequential amendments) is currently under review by the Ministry of Justice. After validation and presidential consideration, it will go to the National Assembly for passage. This law sets the national standards, certification process, oversight, funding, and operational rules.

3. States Pass Their Own Laws
Each state that wants to operate a State Police Service must enact its own state law establishing it.

4. State Certification
No State Police Service can begin operations until the state is certified as meeting the national minimum standards. The process is phased: the constitutional change enables it, but certification is required before any actual policing starts.

5. Operational Launch
Once certified, the State Police Service can commence. Federal coordination, inspections, accountability mechanisms, and possible federal intervention remain in place.