The state police bill has met the constitutional requirements with approvals by 24 State Houses of Assembly.

The approvals have paved the way for the constitutional amendment, meeting the two-thirds threshold required for constitutional change and bringing the country closer to a dual policing system. 

This development clears a major constitutional hurdle in the Federal Government’s efforts to decentralise policing and establish state-controlled police formations alongside the existing federal police structure.

The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill announced the development on Friday, describing the approval as a significant milestone in reforming Nigeria’s policing architecture.

In a statement signed by its Chairman and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the group said the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, had received the endorsement of 24 of the country’s 36 State Houses of Assembly, meeting the constitutional requirement for passage.

The group commended the state legislatures for supporting the reform, while also acknowledging the National Assembly for securing the passage of the amendment in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

According to the statement, the successful ratification by the required number of state assemblies means the constitutional amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for onward transmission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.

“In line with Section 9 of the Constitution, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for transmission to Mr President for assent”, the statement said.

The working group explained that, once the constitutional process is complete, the amendment would provide the legal foundation for the dual policing arrangement envisaged under the proposed National Policing Bill, 2026.

It noted that the constitutional breakthrough would strengthen efforts to establish a policing framework under which federal and state police institutions would operate within clearly defined constitutional and legal boundaries.

The group also said work on the accompanying legislation was progressing on schedule, with the draft National Policing Bill and related legislative proposals currently undergoing review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice.

It said the Ministry was expected to conclude the exercise and return the draft bills to the working group on or before Friday, October 30, 2026.

Following the review, the group would give the proposed legislation final consideration before formally presenting the package to President Tinubu for further action.

“The Working Group’s efforts remain on track. The Federal Ministry of Justice is currently reviewing and validating the draft Bills and is expected to return them on or before Friday, 30th October 2026.

“Thereafter, the Group will give them final consideration before presenting them to Mr President”, the statement added.

The group called on  political leaders, security institutions, and other stakeholders to support the implementation process, stressing the importance of an orderly transition to a policing arrangement that can address the country’s security challenges more effectively.

“The Working Group urges all stakeholders to support a smooth transition to a dual policing system that makes Nigerians safer”, it stated.

The development marks a major step in President Tinubu’s push to establish state police as part of broader measures to strengthen internal security, improve local intelligence gathering, and bring law enforcement closer to communities.

The Presidential Working Group, chaired by Gbajabiamila, was constituted to develop the legislative framework for the proposed reform, including the National Policing Bill and consequential amendments required to accommodate the new policing structure.

The group had earlier submitted the draft National Policing Bill and 29 consequential bills to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, for legal review and validation.

The family of Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, the late leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere,  has announced December 17, 2026, for the burial of the elder statesman, who died at the age of 100.

The burial arrangements were announced in a statement issued by Dr Taiwo Fasoranti on behalf of the family.

The family said the burial programme would begin with a Christian wake-keeping service on Wednesday, December 16, at the deceased’s residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The funeral service and interment are scheduled for Thursday, December 17, at St. David’s Cathedral, Ijomu, Akure.

Fasoranti, a prominent Yoruba leader, nationalist and elder statesman, died at his residence in Akure on Tuesday.

His death has continued to draw tributes from  political leaders, associates and other Nigerians who acknowledged his contributions to the Yoruba nation and the country. 

According to the statement, the wake-keeping service will take place at the late patriarch’s residence within the Omolere Nursery and Primary School Compound, Akure.

The statement said the funeral service would hold at St. David’s Cathedral, Ijomu, on Thursday, December 17, after which the remains of the deceased would be interred at the church cemetery.

It added that guests would be entertained at his residence immediately after the interment.

The family further announced that an outing and thanksgiving service would be held on Sunday, December 20, at St. David’s Cathedral, Ijomu, Akure, to conclude the burial programme.

Describing the deceased as a beloved patriarch, a foremost nationalist and a distinguished leader of Afenifere, the family said the burial arrangements were intended to honour his memory and celebrate his life of service.

The statement read, “The family of late Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, CFR, is pleased to announce the burial arrangements of our beloved patriarch, leader of Afenifere and foremost nationalist, who passed away at the age of 100 years.”

The family appealed to friends, associates, well-wishers and members of the public to support it with prayers and attend the funeral ceremonies in honour of the late elder statesman.

“We request your prayers and presence as we honour the memory of a distinguished elder and patriot,” the statement added.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says its operatives have uncovered a facility used to store and distribute alcoholic drinks suspected to be intended for counterfeit production in the Agbado area of Lagos State.

Kunle Ojo, assistant director in the agency’s investigation and enforcement directorate, disclosed this in a video recorded during an enforcement operation at 322B Meiran Road, Agbado.

Ojo said the operation followed credible intelligence about suspected illicit activities at the location, which he described as a secluded residential area.

He said officials found different brands and sizes of alcoholic beverages, including products bearing the names of Royal Circle premium whisky, Action Bitters and Smirnoff, among others.

According to him, the products were allegedly being supplied to suspected counterfeiters for use in further production.
 

“We have credible intelligence that in this particular area, a very secluded area, where a lot of nefarious activities is taking place here. And that is why we are here this afternoon,” Ojo said, adding that the discovery of the products in a residential neighbourhood raised concerns about the activities taking place at the facility.

“And like I said at the other side, this is residential area. And this is not acceptable to government, and we are here to safeguard the health of the nation,” he said.

The NAFDAC official urged Nigerians to report suspected cases of counterfeit products and other illicit activities to the agency’s offices.

“We are calling on all men and all women in Nigeria, please, when you see something taking place at your area, kindly notify the nearest NAFDAC office so that we can stop this menace, so that we can save our country from all these counterfeiters,” Ojo said.