Nigeria
Law enforcement in Nigeria
A single federal force, the Nigeria Police Force — with a constitutional bar on any other police force, and a pending reform that would change that.
Facts on this page were checked against their sources on .
Policing is a federal function. The Constitution provides for "a police force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force", and states that "no other police force shall be established for the Federation or any part thereof" (section 214(1)); "Police" is also a matter on the Exclusive Legislative List. There are currently no state police forces. The force is commanded by an Inspector-General of Police (section 215), with a Commissioner of Police heading each state contingent under the Inspector-General's authority.
A change to this centralised arrangement is pending but not yet in force. According to the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (26 June 2026), a Constitution (Alteration) (State Police) Bill had been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, but — in the Trust Fund's words — "to become law, the bill must now be ratified by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly before being transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for his assent". As of late July 2026 it was therefore not yet law; if enacted, it would end the single-force monopoly and allow state police services. Whether the bill's safeguards adequately guard against misuse is a contested question, recorded here by attribution to its proponents and critics rather than as a verdict.
The same idea, explained generally
- Why do societies need law enforcement?
Law enforcement exists so that rules apply to everyone rather than to whoever can be compelled. This guide explains the function, the conditions that make it legitimate, and what it cannot do.
- What is the difference between police and law enforcement?
“Police” is one kind of institution. “Law enforcement” is a function that many bodies perform. This guide explains the distinction and why it matters when comparing countries.
Sources
Sources
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)
National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria (official text host) · Legislation · 1999 · link verified 2026-07-27
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended, the copy carrying amendments through 2011), downloaded as the full official PDF (775,326 bytes, 137 pages) and confirmed verbatim in two independent passes. Supports: s 4 and the Second Schedule (the division of legislative power — the Exclusive Legislative List for the Federation, the Concurrent List for both, and residual matters for the States under s 4(7)); Exclusive List item 45 and s 214(1) ("There shall be a police force for Nigeria … no other police force shall be established for the Federation or any part thereof" — a single national police); Exclusive List item 48 ("Prisons" — federal corrections); s 6(5) (the superior courts of record — the federal Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal High Court and FCT High Court, and the State High Courts, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal); s 230/233/235 (the Supreme Court as apex, its decisions final); s 237 (the Court of Appeal); s 275/280 (State Sharia and Customary Courts of Appeal, headed by a Grand Kadi); s 150/174 (the Attorney-General of the Federation, a Minister and Chief Law Officer, with power to institute, take over or discontinue federal prosecutions) and s 195/211 (each State Attorney-General with the mirror power for state offences); s 215 (the Inspector-General commanding the Nigeria Police Force, with the President's lawful-directions power); s 153 and the Third Schedule (the National Judicial Council, the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Council); and s 81(3)/292 (judicial funding through the NJC and security of tenure). Establishes that Nigeria is a federation in which police and prisons are federal, while courts, prosecution and (residually) criminal law operate at both the federal and state levels.
National Assembly Library Trust Fund (Nigeria) · Government publication · 2026-06-26 · link verified 2026-07-27
The National Assembly Library Trust Fund report of 26 June 2026 on the Constitution (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, read directly. Supports, by dated attribution, that the bill had passed both chambers of the National Assembly and — verbatim — "To become law, the bill must now be ratified by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly before being transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for his assent," i.e. it was not yet law as of that date. Cited only for the status and procedural next steps of a pending reform; the debate over whether its safeguards are sufficient is attributed to its proponents and critics, not stated as fact.