The Sokoto State Police Bill has advanced another stage after the State House of Assembly unanimously approved the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police services across Nigeria, adding Sokoto to the growing number of states supporting changes to the country’s centralised policing structure.
Lawmakers adopted the bill during plenary on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, under the leadership of Speaker Tukur Bala Bodinga. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Deputy Majority Leader Mustapha Abdullahi, who represents Sokoto South II, moved the motion seeking approval of the constitutional amendment.
Abdullahi explained that the proposal would amend the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal foundation for state police services while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the federal policing institution. The proposal had previously received approval from both chambers of the National Assembly before state legislatures began considering it.
The decision comes as Nigeria continues to debate how best to strengthen security operations, particularly in communities affected by banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes. However, the assembly’s decision represents progress in the legislative process rather than the immediate establishment of operational state police units.
State Police Proposal Focuses on Local Security
The Sokoto State Police Bill forms part of wider efforts to decentralise policing responsibilities and allow state governments to establish security services that respond more directly to local needs.
Supporters of the reform argue that a state-based policing structure could improve intelligence gathering, strengthen relationships between officers and residents, and help security personnel respond more quickly when threats emerge within their communities.
In Sokoto and other parts of the North-West, residents have faced security challenges involving armed groups, kidnappings and attacks on rural settlements. Advocates believe officers who understand local languages, geography and community relationships could help authorities identify suspicious activities and coordinate preventive measures more effectively.
Under the proposed framework, federal and state police services would operate alongside each other, with their responsibilities defined by law. The federal service would retain duties involving national security and crimes that fall within its jurisdiction, while state police would focus on local law enforcement, public order and investigations within their respective states.
The proposal also includes a State Police Service Commission to oversee key personnel matters, including the appointment, promotion and discipline of officers, except the state police commander. The proposed funding arrangement would allow the commission to receive money directly from the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund.
These provisions aim to establish an administrative structure for state policing, although the effectiveness of the system would depend on clear rules, adequate resources and effective supervision.
Concerns Over Funding and Political Interference
Despite the support for decentralised policing, the proposal has generated concerns about how state governments would manage and supervise their police services without compromising their independence.
Critics of state-controlled policing have raised questions about the possibility of political officeholders using security agencies against opponents, particularly during elections or disputes involving state authorities.
Funding also remains an important consideration, as state governments would need sufficient resources to recruit officers, provide training, maintain equipment and support investigations. Differences in states’ financial capacity could affect the quality of policing unless the framework establishes appropriate standards and safeguards.
Accountability will therefore be central to the proposed system. Clear procedures for handling complaints, investigating misconduct and protecting citizens’ rights would help determine whether state police services can operate professionally and maintain public confidence.
Supporters, meanwhile, maintain that stronger local oversight could improve responses to community security concerns and make policing more accessible to residents.
Bill Approval Does Not Mean State Police Have Started Operations
Although Sokoto lawmakers have approved the proposal, the decision does not mean the state has begun recruiting, deploying or operating its own police force.
The constitutional amendment process requires further formal steps before the proposed system can become fully operational. On October 23, the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill announced that 24 state assemblies had approved the constitutional amendment, meeting the two-thirds threshold required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution.
The working group stated that the amendment could proceed to the National Assembly for transmission to the President for assent. It also reported that draft legislation intended to implement the proposed policing framework was undergoing review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The Sokoto Assembly’s approval adds to that legislative progress, but the relevant legal and administrative arrangements must still be completed before state police services can begin operating.
Until the required process is finalised and a state establishes its service, the Nigeria Police Force remains responsible for policing Sokoto. The assembly’s decision therefore signals support for reform, while the actual implementation of state policing will depend on the completion of the remaining constitutional and operational requirements.
