State Police in Nigeria: Solution to Insecurity or a Dangerous Political Tool?

Oluwatobiloba Olukanni

As the National Assembly considers constitutional amendments to allow state police, an important question remains: Will state police improve security, or will they become another tool for political oppression?

This growing insecurity has renewed calls for the creation of state police in the country that is facing threats from banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime.

Nigeria’s centralised policing structure places the entire police force under the command of the Inspector-General of Police in Abuja.
Many argue that the system, designed to ensure national control and coordination, has become too slow and disconnected from local realities.

The country continues to experience serious security challenges, and cases of kidnapping, bandit attacks, terrorism, and school abductions remain common in several parts of the country.Recent attacks on schools in Oyo and Borno States have shown the inability of security agencies to respond quickly enough to protect vulnerable communities.

The Nigerian Police Force has about 370,000 officers serving a population of more than 220 million people, falling short of international recommendations for effective policing, where many of them are assigned to protect politicians, government officials, and private individuals, leaving fewer personnel available for community policing.

Supporters of state police argue that security is most effective when it is managed by local communities who understand the language, culture, geography, and social dynamics of the areas they serve, which improves intelligence gathering and helps security agencies respond more quickly to threats.Another major argument is that governors currently carry much of the responsibility for security in their states but have limited control over police operations.

Although governors are often described as the Chief Security Officers of their states, they cannot directly command the Commissioner of Police. Decisions frequently require approval from higher authorities, which can slow emergency responses. It is also believed that state police would allow faster deployment of personnel and better coordination during security emergencies.

They also argue that since many state governments already contribute significantly to police logistics, they should have greater authority over security operations within their territories.

Despite its potential benefits, state policing raises concerns about political interference and human rights abuses, as critics fear that governors could use state police to harass political opponents, intimidate critics, and influence electoral processes.

There are also concerns about the infringement of press freedom and civic rights against Journalists, activists, and whistleblowers exposing corruption at the state level, who could become targets of politically motivated law enforcement actions.

Funding is another major issue; many states already are struggling to meet basic financial obligations, including salary payments, which can serve as a hindrance to establishing and maintaining a modern police force that requires significant investment in training, equipment, communication systems, forensic facilities, welfare packages, and pensions.

If state police officers are poorly paid or their salaries are delayed, corruption and misconduct could become widespread, creating more problems than it solves.

Nigeria’s ethnic and political diversity presents another challenge, with the fear of state police deepening in ethnic tensions in some states, leading to division among underrepresented groups who may feel vulnerable if a police force is dominated by members of a majority ethnic or political group. There are also concerns that disputes between neighbouring states could become more complicated if separate police forces operate with competing interests.

The debate over state police should not be viewed as a choice between a failing centralised system and an unrestricted state-controlled force; rather, the real challenge is designing a policing system that improves security while protecting democracy and human rights.

As state police are eventually adopted, strong safeguards will be necessary with the introduction of independent oversight bodies that should monitor operations and investigate allegations of abuse, with clear legal limits that must define the powers of state police commands.

In addition, recruitment and promotions should be transparent, while funding mechanisms should ensure professionalism and accountability, and
State Police should be prohibited from interfering in federal elections and other national security matters with strong constitutional protections to prevent the force from becoming a political weapon.