Rivers Assembly backs state police constitutional amendment

The Rivers State House of Assembly has backed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to create state police in Nigeria.

The decision follows the National Assembly’s transmission of the 1999 Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration.

Channels TV reported that the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, forwarded the bill on September 16 in line with Section 9 of the Constitution. Any constitutional amendment passed by the National Assembly needs approval by at least two-thirds of state assemblies before it can go to the President for assent.

Daily Post reported that the bill would move Nigeria from a single national police model to a dual system made up of the Federal Police Service and State Police Services.

Channels TV reported that the National Assembly leadership set a 30-day administrative timeframe for state legislatures to return their votes, although the Constitution does not set a deadline.

The outlet also reported that the state-police bill has received attention after presidential backing and the work of a national policing bill group. Femi Gbajabiamila, who chairs the group, said the reform was designed to bring policing closer to Nigerians while building safeguards for the system.

Sources: Channels TV, Daily Post