By Odita Sunday
The proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria will strengthen grassroots security, improve intelligence gathering and enhance the country’s response to kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities, according to a position paper on policing reform.
The paper, which examines the prospects, challenges and future of internal security in Nigeria, argues that decentralising policing would enable states to address security threats peculiar to their communities while allowing the Nigeria Police Force to concentrate on broader national security responsibilities.
It maintains that state police, operating alongside the federal police, would bring law enforcement closer to the people, improve response times and strengthen community participation in crime prevention.
The paper noted that Nigeria’s centralised policing structure had come under increasing scrutiny amid persistent security challenges, including insurgency, kidnapping, communal conflicts, banditry, crude oil theft and other organised crimes.
It cited arguments by security analysts and proponents of state policing that local authorities were better positioned to understand the terrain, culture, language and security dynamics of their communities.
The paper also referenced the position of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who argued at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition in Abuja on June 13, 2026, that Nigeria’s centralised security architecture was inadequate for a country with more than 220 million people, 36 states and 774 local government areas.
Kalu was quoted as saying that state policing would reduce response times, improve intelligence gathering and enable security personnel to operate more effectively within communities they understand.
The document further argued that state governments already spend substantial resources supporting security operations within their jurisdictions, including providing logistics, equipment and other assistance to police formations.
It cited security funding arrangements in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states as examples of state-level participation in policing support.
However, the paper acknowledged concerns that governors could abuse state police to intimidate political opponents, suppress dissent and influence electoral processes.
It also identified inadequate funding, corruption, nepotism, ethnic and religious tensions, and jurisdictional conflicts between federal and state police as potential challenges to the proposed reform.
To address these concerns, the paper recommended the establishment of independent State Police Service Commissions to oversee recruitment, discipline and leadership appointments, alongside effective monitoring mechanisms to prevent political interference.
It also called for transparent recruitment procedures based on residency rather than indigeneity, operational autonomy, professional training and clearly defined rules governing cooperation between federal and state police formations.
The paper proposed that state police services prepare annual policing plans based on crime statistics, emerging threats and community needs, with their performance subjected to legislative scrutiny and public accountability.
Community policing as foundation
Drawing on his experience as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State in 2014 and subsequent postings as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, the author highlighted community policing as an important tool for tackling organised crime and strengthening public confidence in law enforcement.
He recalled that community engagement and intelligence-led operations were deployed to address kidnapping, oil bunkering and other violent crimes in Rivers State.
The paper also referenced the *Say No to Kidnapping* initiative, which sought to discourage criminal activities among young people through community participation and awareness campaigns.
It further cited security operations undertaken during his tenure in Zone 6, Calabar, and Zone 12, Bauchi, where collaboration between the police, communities, the military and other security agencies was used to address kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and insurgency-related threats.
According to the paper, these experiences demonstrate the value of local intelligence and sustained cooperation between security agencies and the communities they serve.
International examples
The document also examined policing arrangements in the United States, India, Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom, highlighting different approaches to decentralised law enforcement and coordination between national and subnational authorities.
It argued that Nigeria could draw lessons from these countries by developing a policing framework suited to its constitutional structure, security needs and social realities.
The paper stressed, however, that any model adopted must incorporate safeguards against political interference and ensure uniform professional standards, accountability and respect for citizens’ fundamental rights.
Proposed constitutional reforms
The document referenced ongoing constitutional reform efforts aimed at creating a legal framework for state police to operate alongside the federal police.
It also cited a framework reportedly developed by a Nigeria Police Force steering committee established under the leadership of Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu to examine the establishment, governance and coordination of federal and state police services.
The proposed framework was said to address recruitment, training, operational standards, resource allocation and accountability mechanisms.
The paper further advocated clearly defined circumstances under which federal police could intervene in state policing matters, particularly where a breakdown of law and order exceeds the capacity of a state police service.
It maintained that the division of responsibilities between the two levels of policing would be essential to preventing jurisdictional disputes and ensuring coordinated responses to crimes that cross state boundaries.
Call for safeguards and accountability
The author recommended that state governments build public confidence in the proposed system by strengthening independent institutions and guaranteeing that policing would not be used for partisan political purposes.
It also called for a federal monitoring mechanism during the initial implementation of state police, as well as arrangements allowing experienced officers to transfer or serve across state and federal formations.
The paper concluded that state police could provide an additional layer of security by improving local intelligence, neighbourhood patrols, conflict prevention and early responses to emerging threats.
It stressed that the proposed reform should complement, rather than replace, the Nigeria Police Force, with both structures working together to protect lives and property.
The author expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture, describing the proposed establishment of state police as an important step towards strengthening internal security and promoting national stability.
