The Kwara State House of Assembly has approved a proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
The approval was given during Tuesday’s plenary on October 20, 2026, following the reading of a letter from the Clerk of the National Assembly by the Speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Abdulkadir Yusuf, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, and made available to PUNCH Online in Ilorin.
During deliberations on the proposed constitutional amendment, the House Leader, Mogaji Oba Abdulkadri, outlined the potential benefits of decentralising the country’s policing system.
Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate argued that state police would bring law enforcement closer to communities and improve the protection of lives and property.
Following the approval, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Ahmed Olayiwola, to communicate the Assembly’s decision to the National Assembly for further action.
24 State Assemblies Must Approve Constitutional Amendment
Kwara’s approval forms part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process aimed at allowing state governments to establish their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
Under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, a constitutional alteration of this nature requires the approval of at least two-thirds of all state Houses of Assembly, representing 24 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
The proposed amendment must satisfy the constitutional requirements before the process can advance to subsequent stages. The National Assembly had earlier transmitted the proposed alteration to state legislatures for consideration.
Kwara’s decision therefore represents a step towards the possible introduction of state policing but does not automatically establish a state police service in the state.
