₦airaland Forum

Gs001:
By Godsent Ogbebor

The call for a decentralised police system in Nigeria has gained renewed attention as the National Economic Council (NEC) prepares to deliberate on the establishment of state police in January 2025. This push has also received endorsement from most of Nigeria’s 36 states, with Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, confirming widespread support.

The development comes against the backdrop of escalating security challenges across the country, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery. With the inefficiency of the centralised policing system becoming more apparent, the discussion on decentralised policing has shifted from mere rhetoric to legislative action.

A key highlight in the movement for state police was the Bill for the Creation of State Police, sponsored by former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in the Eighth and Ninth National Assemblies. Although the bill faced rejection in the past, many of its provisions now serve as a blueprint for ongoing discussions.

Ekweremadu’s bill addressed critical concerns surrounding state policing, including structure, standardisation, armament, coexistence with federal police, and safeguards against abuse by state governors. Drawing from best practices in countries like the United States, Canada, and Brazil, the bill proposed a dual policing system featuring federal and state police forces.

Under this arrangement, the Federal Police would handle nationwide security matters, while state police would focus on local law enforcement, operating within a framework established by the National Assembly.

The bill also introduced checks to prevent abuse by governors. For instance, a state governor could only appoint a Commissioner of State Police on the recommendation of the State Police Service Commission and with the approval of the State House of Assembly. Similarly, directives from governors to state police commissioners would need to align with lawful and general policing standards. Disputes would be resolved by the State Police Service Commission.

To ensure accountability, Ekweremadu’s bill outlined robust oversight mechanisms. A State Police Service Commission would oversee state police appointments, discipline officers, and ensure adherence to policing standards. At the national level, the National Police Service Commission would supervise both federal and state police operations to maintain uniformity and prevent abuse of power.

The bill further proposed periodic reviews of state police activities by the National Police Service Commission to ensure they align with national interests and do not promote ethnic, tribal, or sectional agendas. Despite its rejection in previous assemblies, the growing insecurity in Nigeria has led to renewed interest in decentralised policing.

Ekweremadu’s legislative efforts have been widely acknowledged as visionary. In a recent television interview, Senator Ita Enang, a former federal lawmaker who once opposed the bill, admitted, “Senator Ike Ekweremadu was very vehement about state police. I was among those who campaigned against it, fearing governors might misuse it. But now, state police is an idea whose time has come.”

With President Bola Tinubu’s federalist stance and rising insecurity, stakeholders now view decentralised policing as a necessary step toward restoring order and protecting lives and property. As the NEC prepares to deliberate on state policing in early 2025, many believe Nigeria is on the cusp of a significant reform in its security architecture.

For advocates like Ekweremadu, the ongoing discussions represent the fruition of years of effort to create a safer and more secure Nigeria through decentralised policing.

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