ABUJA — The Nigerian Senate is set to consider and pass amendments to the 1999 Constitution this week to provide for the establishment of state police across the country.

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, describing the current legislative week as critical to the nation’s security architecture.

According to Bamidele, there is a broad consensus among key stakeholders on the need to establish state police, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 36 state governors have expressed support for the constitutional amendment.

The Senate Leader said the National Assembly was optimistic about the passage of the bill following extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders.

He revealed that the leadership of the National Assembly held a series of meetings last week with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Inspector-General of Police, and other critical stakeholders to fine-tune the proposed legislation.

Bamidele stated that the bill was now ready for legislative action and expressed confidence that the National Assembly would make significant progress on it during the week.

“The legislative week beginning on Tuesday will be crucial, particularly regarding constitutional amendments that seek to address key national issues, including the establishment of state police,” he said.

He explained that once the amendment bill is passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, it will be transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for ratification in line with constitutional provisions.

Under the amendment process, at least two-thirds of the state legislatures—equivalent to 24 of the 36 State Houses of Assembly—must approve the bill before it can be returned for presidential assent.

The proposed establishment of state police has been a subject of national debate for years, with proponents arguing that decentralising policing would enhance security, improve intelligence gathering, and enable quicker responses to local security challenges.

If successfully ratified, the amendment would mark one of the most significant reforms to Nigeria’s policing system since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

Details later.