# Nigeria approves state police forces to fight insecurity

> Twenty-eight Nigerian states back constitutional reform allowing local police forces, raising hopes for better security but fears of governor abuse.
- Title: Nigeria approves state police forces to fight insecurity · RFI
- Summary: Twenty-eight Nigerian states back constitutional reform allowing local police forces, raising hopes for better security but fears of governor abuse.
- Keywords: nigeria, state police, constitutional reform, insecurity, federal police, bola tinubu, governors, civic media lab, RFI
- Source: RFI — https://rfi.fr/en/africa/20261107-nigeria-plan-for-state-police-raises-hopes-for-security-and-fears-of-abuse
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nigeria, state police, constitutional reform, security, insecurity, federal police, bola tinubu, governors, civic media lab, news, world
## Twenty-eight states approve police reform
Nigeria's 28 state legislatures approved a constitutional reform allowing individual states to establish their own police forces alongside the federal police based in Abuja.
## Why local police matter
The goal is to improve security by putting officers on the ground who know local communities and speak their languages, addressing a long-standing demand from Nigerians.
## Nigeria's police shortage
Nigeria has fewer than four hundred thousand officers for a population of over two hundred million, leaving areas plagued by insecurity with very weak police presence.
## Federal police keep national role
The federal police will retain responsibility for national security matters and can intervene when a state cannot manage a crisis or serious misconduct occurs in its police force.
## Safeguards against governor abuse
The Senate prohibited governors from using police to serve partisan, ethnic, religious or group interests, or to target political opponents, with a new National Police Council to oversee compliance.

> The Senate has put in place several safeguards to prevent governors from abusing their powers.
## Risk of replicating federal flaws
The current federal police system suffers from corruption and lack of oversight. If states import this model directly, they will multiply these flaws at the state level.

> It suffers from numerous problems with corruption and a lack of oversight.
## Reform awaits presidential approval
President Bola Tinubu is expected to sign the reform into law shortly. Each state wishing to create its own police force will then adopt legislation to govern its operations.
## Key takeaway

Nigeria's 28 states approved a constitutional reform allowing individual state police forces alongside the federal police, aiming to improve local security but risking abuse by governors.