The Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) has officially submitted a new legislative proposal to the National Assembly.

The document seeks to change the Constitution to allow for the creation of state police across the country.

The governors presented this framework on Monday, March 23, 2026. This action follows months of high-level talks between the state leaders and the Presidency regarding the nation’s security crisis.

The proposal contains strict rules to prevent political abuse. It also outlines how states will fund their own police forces without collapsing their budgets.

Currently, the federal government controls all police officers through the Inspector General in Abuja. However, many governors argue that this system is too slow to stop local kidnapping and banditry.

A New Blueprint For Local Security Control

The NGF Chairman noted that the current security setup is stretched too thin. Therefore, the states need the power to protect their own people more effectively.

“We are not asking for a tool for political oppression,” one governor stated. “We are asking for the right to secure the lives and properties of our citizens at the grassroots level,” he added.

Furthermore, the governors alleged that local officers would understand the terrain better than those sent from distant regions.

They believe that “community policing” is the only way to finally end the terror in rural areas.

However, some lawmakers still have concerns about the cost of this transition. They worry that poor states might struggle to pay salaries, leading to more corruption within the ranks.

Despite these fears, the demand for state police has reached an all-time high. The National Assembly is expected to begin a clause-by-clause review of the proposal later this week.

If passed, this should bring policing closer to more square inches of Nigeria, including the so-called ungoverned areas. There will likely also be more police officers who live in your community and speak your language.

Ultimately, this will lead to a better local economy and prosperity for the states.