Nigeria's ongoing debate over the creation of state police has intensified, with senior legal experts, retired police officers and policy analysts expressing sharply differing views over the Federal Government's proposed constitutional amendment aimed at decentralising policing across the country.
The proposal, which seeks to establish state-controlled police forces alongside the Nigeria Police Force, has generated nationwide discussions over its potential to improve security while raising concerns about political abuse, funding and operational independence.
Speaking on the proposal, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Marvel Akpoyibo Oji described the move as a welcome development, arguing that state policing would significantly improve intelligence gathering and security operations.
According to him, officers recruited from local communities possess better knowledge of the terrain, local languages and criminal networks than officers deployed from distant states.
He maintained that community-based policing would make it more difficult for terrorists, kidnappers and bandits to operate freely, especially in forests and remote communities where local intelligence is essential.
"The people who know the terrain, the routes and the communities are in the best position to provide intelligence that can frustrate criminal activities," he said.
Oji noted that technology alone cannot solve Nigeria's security challenges without reliable grassroots intelligence, insisting that local participation remains critical in tackling insecurity.
Drawing from his experience as Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the retired DIG recalled introducing a system where Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) distributed their direct phone numbers to residents, encouraging citizens to report suspicious activities directly.
He said the initiative improved police-community relations and reduced criminal hideouts through timely intelligence sharing.
However, Oji stressed that establishing state police should not merely create another bureaucracy.
He argued that officers must receive adequate training, modern equipment and sustainable funding while their salaries should be protected through constitutional provisions to prevent political interference.
"We must ensure state police are properly trained, well equipped and adequately funded. Without these safeguards, the objective will be defeated," he said.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer Femi Falana offered a more cautious assessment, warning that Nigeria risks repeating historical mistakes if critical constitutional safeguards are ignored.
Falana reminded Nigerians that the country previously operated both federal and regional police between 1960 and 1966 before abandoning the system because of widespread political abuse.
According to him, the return to state policing should only occur after addressing the very concerns that led to its abolition decades ago.
"There is nothing entirely new about state police. The question is whether the problems that led to its abolition have been resolved," he stated.
Falana criticised the proposed legislation as lacking sufficient detail, arguing that it fails to clearly explain appointment procedures, accountability mechanisms, funding arrangements and protection against political manipulation.
He questioned how financially struggling states would fund independent police forces when many already struggle to pay workers' salaries and pensions.
Beyond funding, Falana expressed concern over the potential abuse of state police by governors against political opponents, noting that Nigeria's political environment remains highly polarised.
He called for broader public consultations before final approval of the constitutional amendment.
"There are serious legal, financial and political implications that have not been adequately addressed," he said.
Falana also pointed out that several states already operate various forms of community security outfits, including Amotekun in the South-West, civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno, Neighbourhood Safety Corps in Lagos and Hisbah Corps in Kano.
According to him, the debate should determine whether these existing organisations would simply be renamed as state police or integrated into a broader policing framework.
He further argued that improving security goes beyond increasing the number of police officers.
"The issue is intelligence, technology, equipment and proper coordination," he said.
Falana stressed that modern criminals increasingly deploy sophisticated technologies while law enforcement agencies often lack comparable surveillance capabilities.
He called for greater investment in intelligence gathering, satellite surveillance, communication systems and modern policing tools.
Both speakers agreed that intelligence remains central to tackling terrorism, kidnapping and organised crime.
However, Falana insisted that security reforms must also address underlying socio-economic issues such as unemployment, poverty and youth disenfranchisement.
According to him, creating additional policing structures alone cannot eliminate insecurity without broader investments in social welfare and economic opportunities.
He also criticised the existing Nigerian Police Council for not fully exercising its constitutional oversight responsibilities despite including the President, all 36 state governors, the Inspector-General of Police and other senior officials.
As the constitutional amendment progresses through legislative processes, experts have called on state Houses of Assembly to organise extensive public hearings to allow citizens, civil society organisations and security professionals to contribute to the debate.
They argue that while decentralising policing may strengthen local security responses, the success of state police will ultimately depend on constitutional safeguards, transparent funding mechanisms, operational independence and strict accountability measures.
The debate continues as stakeholders weigh whether state police can become a transformative solution to Nigeria's worsening insecurity or create new challenges if implemented without comprehensive reforms.
Comments
Post a Comment