State police is closer to reality as 25 State Houses of Assembly have endorsed the proposed 2026 constitutional amendment, reports say. That is above the 24 states needed, which is two-thirds of the 36 states. However, state police are not yet operational. The constitutional process and legal review must still run their course.
Reports differ slightly on the number. The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill cited 24 states in its statement on Friday. TheCable and TheNigeriaLawyer, however, counted 25 from state records. Either count meets the two-thirds threshold under Section 9(2) of the Constitution.
States that have approved (25)
| South-South | Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers |
| South-East | Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo |
| South-West | Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Oyo |
| North-Central | Benue, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau |
| North-East | Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe |
| North-West | Kaduna, Kebbi, Zamfara |
Abia and Gombe each appear in only one of two published lists. Sources: Tribune Online, Legit.ng, TheNigeriaLawyer.
States yet to approve (11)
| Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Sokoto |
Source: TheNigeriaLawyer, 23 October 2026. The list may change as states act.
The amendment would move policing from the exclusive list to the concurrent list. As a result, both the National Assembly and state assemblies could make laws on policing. The framework would create a Federal Police Service and State Police Services. It would also let states choose whether to set up their own forces.
Next, the approvals go back to the National Assembly. Lawmakers then send the bill to President Bola Tinubu for assent. Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Justice is reviewing the draft bills and should return them by 30 October. Femi Gbajabiamila, who chairs the working group, said the National Policing Bill is 90 per cent ready.
Several states are still working on it. Kano is scheduled for plenary. Bauchi and Katsina are at the committee stage. Lagos has given no public update.
Key questions remain. Funding comes first, since states must pay for their forces. Accountability is another concern. So are safeguards against political abuse by governors. The bill would let governors appoint State Commissioners of Police from serving officers. The Nigeria Police Council would recommend them, and the State House of Assembly would confirm them.
Sojworldnews will update this list as more states act. The counts above come from published reports and may change.
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