Calls for the creation of state police continued to generate robust debate as legal, security, and governance experts urged lawmakers to balance the need for decentralised policing with safeguards against abuse and operational challenges.
Speaking at a national dialogue on security reform, former House of Representatives member and lawyer Nkeiruka Onyejeocha argued that while devolving policing powers enjoys broad public support, the process requires careful planning to avoid creating new security and governance problems.
According to her, every major reform inevitably introduces fresh challenges, making it essential for policymakers to develop a comprehensive implementation framework rather than rushing constitutional amendments.
"There is a consensus that security responsibilities should be devolved closer to the people because the current policing system is overstretched," she said. "But we must ensure that the solution does not create another set of problems."
She stressed that Nigeria's security crisis extends beyond conventional policing, pointing to terrorism, banditry, violent extremism, illegal mining, and attacks on police formations as evidence that the country's challenges demand a broader security strategy.
The former lawmaker noted that many police stations, particularly in parts of southeastern Nigeria, have been destroyed during attacks and are yet to be rebuilt, while the police force itself has suffered significant personnel losses in the fight against insecurity.
She therefore argued that strengthening the existing Nigeria Police Force should remain a priority even as the country considers establishing state police services.
"I support devolution, but it should be a carefully managed transition," she said. "If we do not have a strong national police, it will be difficult to build 36 effective state police organisations."
She also questioned whether state police alone could adequately address terrorism and other complex security threats, urging policymakers to define the specific responsibilities of state police within Nigeria's wider security architecture.
Funding also emerged as a major concern during the discussion.
According to her, while state governments already provide operational support such as patrol vehicles and logistics for federal police formations, establishing independent police services would require substantial investment in recruitment, training, equipment, salaries, infrastructure, and technology.
She warned that Nigeria must realistically assess whether states possess the financial capacity to sustain such institutions over the long term.
The former legislator further called for clear implementation timelines, noting that police recruitment and professional training require significant preparation and cannot be accomplished overnight.
She also raised concerns about the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, warning that expanding policing structures without adequate arms control mechanisms could worsen security challenges.
"What happens to weapons issued to state police? What systems will exist to track and recover them?" she asked, adding that reports of missing firearms from existing security agencies underscore the importance of strong accountability mechanisms.
She further observed that discussions around state police have largely overlooked the roles of other security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as issues relating to coordination with the military and overlapping operational responsibilities.
Responding to some of the concerns, former Lucky Irabor sought to clarify what state police would entail.
He explained that police presence already exists across local governments and communities, stressing that the central issue is not the geographical location of officers but the command-and-control structure governing their operations.
"State police is fundamentally about command and control," Irabor said. "It is about ensuring that decisions can be made closer to where incidents occur so that responses are faster and more effective."
He argued that decentralising operational control would not necessarily duplicate existing policing functions but could instead improve law enforcement by allowing quicker decision-making and greater responsiveness to local security challenges.
The ongoing debate reflects growing national interest in constitutional reforms aimed at addressing insecurity through a more decentralised policing framework, while balancing concerns over funding, accountability, human rights, political interference, and coordination among Nigeria's various security agencies.
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