Twenty-five state houses of assembly have endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police.

The endorsement, based on a compilation of legislative decisions across 25 states, is a significant step toward decentralising policing powers currently vested in the federal government.

Section 9(2) of the 1999 constitution stipulates that a constitutional amendment must secure the support of at least a two-thirds majority of members of each chamber of the national assembly and be approved by resolutions of the houses of assembly of not fewer than two-thirds of 36 states.

The senate and the house of representatives passed the proposed amendment in June and July, respectively, before Kamoru Ogunlana, clerk to the national assembly, transmitted the bill to the state legislatures for consideration.

The states that have endorsed the proposal are Ogun, Delta, Plateau, Kwara, Adamawa, Edo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Zamfara, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba, Yobe and Kebbi.

The endorsements exceed the constitutional threshold of 24 states required to alter the constitution under section 9(2).

Under the current constitutional framework, the Nigeria Police Force operates as a federal institution, with policing placed under the exclusive legislative list.

The proposed amendment seeks to move policing from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list, enabling both the national assembly and state houses of assembly to legislate on policing and related security matters.

The proposal is designed to establish a dual policing framework in which federal and state police formations operate within their respective jurisdictions.

It provides that the Nigeria Police Force would continue to discharge policing functions in any state until a state police formation becomes operational.

Even after a state force commences operations, the federal police would retain responsibility for federal policing duties and could assist state police in accordance with the law.

The proposed framework contains provisions to limit federal police interference in the operations and internal security affairs of state police formations, except under specified circumstances.

These include a complete breakdown of law and order beyond the capacity of a state police force, a state governor’s request for federal intervention, or circumstances in which a state police formation becomes unable to function because of administrative, financial, or other challenges.

The provisions are intended to delineate the operational responsibilities of the two tiers of policing while preserving the federal police’s capacity to intervene in exceptional situations.

Following the endorsement by 25 states, the national assembly is expected to complete the necessary legislative processes and transmit the proposed constitutional alteration to President Bola Tinubu for assent, in accordance with the applicable constitutional procedure.

Meanwhile, the presidential working group on police reform said it will soon transmit the national policing bill to the national assembly.

Paris St-Germain’s Ligue 1 match against Lyon has been pushed back 24 hours to Monday as the French capital prepares for another weekend of protests.

The fixture at the Parc des Princes in Paris had been scheduled to kick off at 19:45 GMT on Sunday but will instead take place at 20:30 on Monday.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) announced the postponement in a statement on Friday after French police prohibited the fixture from taking place on its original date.

French authorities are preparing a major security operation for demonstrations planned for Saturday.

Around 550,000 people took part in demonstrations last Saturday to protest rising fuel prices, education standards and the cost of living, which have escalated after weeks of student protests.

Marches took place in several major French cities, including Paris, backed by unions and student groups, and were marred by some incidents of violence, looting and destruction.

The security challenge is further complicated by Sunday’s NFL match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France, an event expected to require a significant police deployment.

The game will be played in Saint-Denis, about 10km from Place de la Bastille, where the protests are expected to begin.

The disruptions have already affected France’s domestic football schedule with Toulouse’s Ligue 1 home game against Troyes moved from Saturday to Sunday at the request of authorities.

Reigning French and European champions PSG are second in the standings after seven matches, while Lyon lead the table on 14 points, ahead of the holders on goal difference.

The match will also now be played on the same day as the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.

Injured PSG pair Ousmane Dembele, the 2025 winner, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are among the contenders for the award.

In Round 11 of the Saudi League, Al-Nassr faced Al-Fayha away from home. In the second half, Félix set up Ronaldo for a free kick, which Ronaldo converted for his 982nd career goal. Late in the match, Ronaldo started an attack that Ângelo Borges finished to seal a 3-1 victory for Al-Nassr.

The Portuguese national team posted a congratulatory message on social media after the match: “Cristiano Ronaldo adds another goal to his tally!”