President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the House of Representatives seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide the legal framework for the establishment of state police across Nigeria.

The proposed Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, is widely seen as one of the most significant efforts to reform Nigeria’s policing system since the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999.

In a letter dated June 15, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, the President urged lawmakers to give the bill expedited consideration, describing it as a key component of his administration’s security reforms.

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The letter, read during Tuesday’s plenary by Speaker Abbas, stated that the bill seeks to create “a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services” to strengthen Nigeria’s response to growing security challenges.

Tinubu said the proposed legislation builds on previous work already undertaken by the House of Representatives while introducing additional safeguards to ensure the effective operation of a dual policing structure.

“This bill builds on the significant work already done in this regard by the House of Representatives and incorporates additional safeguards to ensure that the creation of a dual policing structure to address our nation’s evolving national security challenges can be achieved quickly and effectively to the benefit of all Nigerians,” the President stated.

He described the legislation as a critical part of his administration’s strategy to reorganise the country’s security architecture and appealed to lawmakers to fast-track its passage.

“The proposed legislation is a critical component of our administration’s strategy to reorganise Nigeria’s security architecture to better protect our citizens, and I am confident that the House of Representatives will act quickly to consider and pass this bill,” Tinubu wrote.

The President also expressed confidence that the National Assembly would act swiftly on the proposal, saying he looked forward to its prompt consideration.

Nigeria currently operates a single, centrally controlled policing system under the Nigeria Police Force as provided by the 1999 Constitution.

However, rising insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other violent crimes, has intensified calls for the decentralisation of policing.

The push for state police has gained momentum in recent years as governors increasingly rely on regional and state-backed security outfits, including Amotekun in the South-West, Ebube Agu in parts of the South-East and various vigilante organisations, to complement federal security agencies.

While supporters argue that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering, community policing and response time, critics have consistently warned that state-controlled police could be abused by governors for political purposes.

If approved by two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly and ratified by at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, the bill would amend the Constitution to establish a dual policing system, allowing both the Federal Government and state governments to operate constitutionally recognised police services.

The proposal is expected to trigger fresh debate among lawmakers and stakeholders over the structure, funding, oversight and operational safeguards for state police as the National Assembly begins consideration of the bill.

The Presidency has faulted Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over his call for a United Nations-led investigation into the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the request as unnecessary and politically motivated.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Federal Government has no objection to an international investigation if the governor believes there are unanswered questions surrounding the incident.

“The governor has just expressed his opinion that the UN should probe this incident. Our doors are open. Let the UN come if he thinks there is more to it than what our military has explained,” Onanuga said.

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He, however, questioned the basis of the governor’s demand, insisting that no security agency would deliberately allow schoolchildren to remain in captivity for 56 days.

“Look at those kids. Some of them are just about four or six years old. Will anyone want to deliberately subject them to the trauma they went through for 56 days?” he asked.

Onanuga noted that the rescue operation came at a huge cost, revealing that several security personnel, including soldiers and operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, lost their lives during efforts to rescue the victims.

He also disclosed that one of the abducted teachers was killed while in captivity.

Describing the governor’s stance as politically motivated, the presidential spokesman accused Makinde, whom he referred to as a presidential aspirant, of lacking confidence in the country’s institutions.

“It is just unfortunate that Mr Makinde, maybe because of politics, because he is a presidential candidate now, doesn’t have any trust in our own institutions and is now calling on an external body to come and investigate,” he said.

Onanuga further dismissed the governor’s request as unnecessary, alleging that he was attempting to politicise the incident.

“The man is just playing politics, and it is the politics of the bizarre. He wants to weaponise anything available, including dredging up a strange conspiracy theory,” he added.

Governor Makinde had earlier called for a UN-backed investigation while receiving the 45 rescued pupils and teachers formally handed over to the Oyo State Government after spending 56 days in captivity.

According to the governor, the circumstances surrounding the abduction and rescue deserve independent international scrutiny.

“I therefore, with a full sense of responsibility as the Executive Governor of Oyo State, call on the appropriate international human rights and accountability mechanisms, including those within the United Nations system, to closely examine the facts surrounding this abduction and the circumstances of its resolution,” Makinde said.

He maintained that the request was not aimed at discrediting Nigerian institutions but at strengthening public confidence through transparency and accountability.

“This is not about politics. It is about justice for the victims, reassurance for our people, and restoring public confidence that every Nigerian child can go to school without fear,” the governor added.

Armed gunmen have reportedly abducted a 60-year-old headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, sparking concern among residents and the education community.

The victim, Mr. Matthew Kolawale Owoade, popularly known as “Onaiye,” was allegedly kidnapped on Saturday evening, July 11, 2026, while returning from a visit to his farm.

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According to his son, Mr. Abiola Owoade, the headmaster was intercepted by unidentified gunmen between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and taken to an unknown destination.

The kidnappers reportedly contacted the family shortly after the abduction using the victim’s mobile phone and demanded a ransom of N30 million for his release.

A search team later recovered Mr. Owoade’s motorcycle, which had been abandoned in a bush at about 8:20 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, raising further fears over his whereabouts.

The incident has thrown family members, colleagues, and residents of Itesiwaju Local Government into distress, with many calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the victim’s safe return.

They appealed to the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies to act swiftly to rescue the headmaster and bring those responsible to justice.

The family also urged members of the public to provide any useful information that could aid security operatives in locating the abductors.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said security operatives had already commenced efforts to rescue the victim.

“I can confirm to you that a farmer, Mr. Owoade Mathew, was kidnapped at his farm in Budo Aare, and efforts are on to rescue the man unhurt and arrest the perpetrator,” Ayanlade said.

Police say investigations are ongoing as efforts continue to secure the safe and unconditional release of the abducted headmaster.