State police: Rivers Assembly joins Osun, Edo in backing bill

The Rivers State House of Assembly has expressed its support for a bill aimed at establishing state police services in Nigeria. This decision marks the Assembly joining the states of Osun and Edo in backing the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution. The bill, which was sent to the state Houses of Assembly by the National Assembly on September 16, 2026, seeks to create a decentralized policing system that brings services closer to citizens.

With the backing of the Rivers Assembly, the amendment requires approval from at least 24 of Nigeria's 36 state legislatures before it can be sent to the President for assent. The proposed alteration preserves the Federal Police Service while creating a new constitutional pathway for state police services. The Speaker of the Rivers Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, emphasized the Assembly's commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu's efforts to ensure the security and well-being of citizens through the establishment of state police.