Five state governments have indicated plans to transform their existing security outfits into state police once the constitutional process establishing the new policing system is completed.
The move follows the passage of the Executive Bill on state police by the House of Representatives, marking a significant step towards decentralising Nigeria’s policing system.
The bill was approved after the House withdrew its earlier constitutional amendment proposal and adopted the Executive Bill instead.
The affected states—Ondo, Kaduna, Anambra, Zamfara and Abia—said their existing security agencies already possess the operational structures, local knowledge and community networks required to serve as the foundation for state police.
In Ondo State, officials said the Amotekun Corps was well positioned to transition into a state police service.
The Governor’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communication, Allen Sowore, said the corps had the personnel, operational experience and institutional framework needed for the proposed policing system.
He added that Amotekun officers’ familiarity with local communities and security challenges would make the transition more effective.
Similarly, the Kaduna State Government said it intended to build its state police on the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVIS).
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shu’aibu, said the government had begun strengthening the agency’s operational capacity in anticipation of the constitutional changes.
He noted that KADVIS had undergone legal reforms and adopted standard operating procedures to improve its effectiveness.
In Zamfara State, the government said it would consider converting the Civilian Protection Guards into the proposed state police.
The Governor’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mustafa Kaura, said the outfit’s experience in tackling insecurity made it a suitable foundation for the new policing system.
The Anambra State Government also expressed readiness to adapt its Agunechemba security outfit to meet the requirements of state policing.
The Governor’s Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ejimofor Opara, said the state’s Homeland Security Law already shared many similarities with the proposed framework for state police.
Abia State said it was considering integrating its Homeland Security outfit and community vigilante groups into the proposed state police structure.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, said modalities for implementation would be developed once the constitutional process was concluded.
Meanwhile, several other states, including Bayelsa, Yobe, Imo, Benue, Kebbi, Sokoto, Ogun and Ekiti, said they would wait for the completion of the constitutional process before deciding how to establish their state police services.
Officials in those states said it would be premature to determine whether existing security outfits would be incorporated until the legislation receives presidential assent and implementation guidelines are issued.
In Delta State, however, the government said it intended to establish an entirely new state police structure rather than convert existing security outfits.
The state said it had already approved the construction of police headquarters in all 25 local government areas to prepare for the proposed policing system.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, said the government preferred to create a new organisation instead of restructuring existing vigilante groups or state-backed security agencies.
