State police: 28 states approve constitutional amendment

The National Assembly has received approval reports from 28 of Nigeria's 36 State Houses of Assembly for a proposed constitutional amendment. This marks the minimum threshold of 24 states required under the 1999 Constitution, as stipulated in Section 9. The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the amendment seeks to establish state police services in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The amendment bill was sent to all 36 state legislatures on September 16, 2026, with a 30-day deadline for their approval, which has since passed. As of the latest update, Ogunlana said the Office of the Clerk is still receiving approval reports until the bill is sent for assent to the President. Supporters argue that state police would enhance local security arrangements to address various criminal activities, while critics express concerns about potential misuse of power.