Olu Samuel

The Kogi State House of Assembly has unanimously concurred with the National Assembly on the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police in Nigeria.

The concurrence followed the consideration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, at the third and final reading during plenary on Tuesday.

Speaking during the session, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, described the consideration of the bill as a significant step towards strengthening security at the community level.

He said that the growing security challenges facing the country had made it necessary for communities to take greater responsibility for protecting lives and property.

“The existing security challenges have pushed many communities towards organising local security arrangements to defend themselves against criminal activities.

He noted that the establishment of state police would provide a legal framework for more effective security operations and enable states to respond better to threats within their territories.

Yusuf recalled that the Kogi State House of Assembly had earlier passed legislation on vigilante services and supported initiatives involving hunters as part of efforts to strengthen community security.

“The proposed state police system would create an opportunity for states to access appropriate security equipment and resources to address emerging threats.

Contributing to the debate, lawmakers unanimously supported the proposal, saying state police would bring security operations closer to the people and facilitate quicker response to emergencies.

Recall that the Bill which amendment was passed by the Senate on 24 June 2026, followed by the House of Representatives on 23 July was subsequently transmitted to all 36 State Assemblies by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana on 16 of last month.