The Senate has pledged to complete the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow the creation of state police before the end of 2026. This follows President Bola Tinubu’s request to the National Assembly to begin the process of amending the constitution to incorporate state police as part of efforts to tackle the nation’s insecurity challenges.

Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, stated that the upper chamber would immediately resume work on the constitutional review once plenary reconvenes next week. Significant groundwork has already been done on the proposal, and the committee handling the constitution review has compiled reports and findings from consultations across the country.

Stakeholders, including Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and Afenifere, have urged the National Assembly to include strong safeguards in the proposed amendment to prevent governors from abusing the powers of the state police. They propose that the Federal Government should regulate the activities of state police formations and ensure oversight to prevent misuse.