₦airaland Forum

State Police: Commendable Step, but Disorderly Legislation Raises Concerns of Political Misuse

The recent passage of the State Police Bill by the National Assembly marks a significant legislative milestone in addressing a long-standing demand of the Nigerian people. For years, many of us, alongside security experts and regional stakeholders, have consistently argued that a highly centralised policing structure is fundamentally unsuitable for a country as vast, diverse, and complex as Nigeria. However, the legislative and constitutional implementation appears shaky and raises legitimate concerns.

The process should involve greater community participation. Policing should be more visible at the local government and community levels. The mechanism for passing the law appears highly disorganised, with no public hearing on such a sensitive issue. Indeed, the rush to enact the law without proper legislative procedures fuels suspicion among many observers about the political motives behind it.

The greatest concern does not arise from logistical issues; it stems from history. There is a widespread, justifiable fear that state police forces could become instruments in the hands of governors. The suspicion is that a state-controlled police force could be weaponised to suppress political rivals, disrupt opposition rallies, and manipulate elections.

For state policing to evolve from a risky political gamble into a genuine security solution, the law must not only permit states to establish police forces but also clearly provide for independent oversight bodies, such as a state-level Police Service Commission that is entirely free from executive influence, to ensure that policing serves the public interest rather than the interests of the ruling elite.

Going by what Nigerians have seen so far, there is no guarantee that this administration can resist the temptation to take advantage of state policing to influence the 2027 general election by proxy. In view of that possibility and the danger it poses to the polity, it is necessary to defer its implementation until after the general election.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

Peter Gregory Onwuabasi Obi

Haha. Hobi the Agulu gbajuẹ boy.

10 THINGS PRESIDENT Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu IS FIXING THAT PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS DIDN’T:

1. State Finances: Instead of bailouts and unpaid salaries, states now have significantly higher revenues and greater fiscal stability.

2. Consumer Credit: Through CREDICORP, Nigeria is building a structured credit culture, giving workers access to affordable financing and opening the door to broader financial inclusion.

3. State Police: A long-discussed security reform that previous administrations couldn’t advance is finally gaining traction.

4. Local Government Autonomy: For the first time, grassroots governance is being treated as a priority, bringing governance closer to the people.

5. Electricity Decentralization: States can now generate, transmit and distribute electricity, ending decades of excessive centralization.

6. NELFUND: Students from low-income families can now access tertiary education funding without the traditional financial barriers.

7. Tax Reform: The tax system is being simplified, reducing the burden on low-income earners while improving compliance and accountability.

8. ASUU Stability: For the first time in many years, Nigerian students are completing academic sessions without prolonged nationwide ASUU disruptions.

9. Mega Infrastructure Projects: The Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and Lagos-Abuja Super Highway represent infrastructure ambitions on a scale rarely seen in Nigeria’s history.

10. Food Inflation Reversal: Nigeria is witnessing a decline in food prices after a period of sharp increases; something many Nigerians thought would never happen once prices had risen.

Love him or hate him, these are major structural reforms and projects that previous administrations either could not or did not implement.

May Nigeria win🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

It's typical of him to find fault in everything.

But what?

Chronic debtor who couldn't pay Doctors and teachers' salaries.

Should this and that, always promising things he didn't do for 8 years as Governor.
Anyone can make promises of what they will.do when they into office.
It's easier to play opposition politics with mouth.
But someone like Obi has a record, he was a Governor for 8 good years.

What and what did you do when you were thr executive Governor of Anambra ?
He was a terrible disaster, an incompetent lying corrupt Conman who took the state money and invested it into business in which he and his family had financial interest.
Enu do ro efo, it's easy to say you what you would have done, but your record says otherwise.

Who asked for his opinion.

Didn't he say we the public are not entitled to know his plans

I am on the same page with Peter Obi about this

https://www.nairaland.com/8698236/state-policing-currently-nigeria-illusion

In view of that possibility and the danger it poses to the polity, it is necessary to defer its implementation until after the general election.

I no understand.

General elections dey finish for Naija?

If they aren't in operation in 2027, won't they be in 2031? There'll always be a room for modifications.

Kuku come out straight and condemn State Police. Don't be here & there.

Airlord2030:
It's typical of him to find fault in everything.

The writeup go actually favor you poor man self and your fellow masses. No big man or politician can win you in police station, just as we have here in England. I can take a politician to court and win if I have good evidence.

Some people comment without reading to assimilate. If no one is scrutinizing the people in power, how do we expect the country to grow?

The man is too dull


Olodo.

I wish I had the photos of all the commenter above.

He raised a valid point but...

The state policing discussion didn't start this year by this administration.

He mentioned it being used for election but he's a politician too, they always have ulterior motives.

Mtcheww..

Make e no be like say him no see something talk..

Peter Obi has raised valid points

agulu gbajue have spoken

But what, Mr Pitobi? Bangladesh has local government police and it boosted their GDP by 83.75% in two weeks?

This semi illiterate has come again.


The bill that is pending in the Senate seeks to amend the constitution to allow for state policing and it gives state legislative branches the onus to draft out how best they want a police force to operate .


This igboramus will just rush in and chook his mouth without thinking for once.

The constitutional amendment process is just one step in a process to enable states enact necessary enabling laws and modalities that will see to the creation of state police.

This apc idiots can lie for Africa. One was on my mention lying that PO was bitterly opposing state police.

Obi should try and make himself unpredictable. It's getting obvious that he always conderm anything good from this government.

The SS will never forget the criticism from Obi and Obidients on Coastal road.

There’s no but.. it’s the way forward with all variables being examined..

Whatever apc spammers are using to evade NL spam bot needs to be studied, or else what is the rationale behind those useless posts from them?
Rushing to attack without even going through the message

metch1:
Some people comment without reading to assimilate. If no one is scrutinizing the people in power, how do we expect the country to grow?

I doubt we Nigerians understand the need for scrutiny.

We think question asking is fault finding, and can't consider it to be fault mitigating.

TemplarLandry:
Haha. Hobi the Agulu gbajuẹ boy.

When Tinubu made the same exact statement in 2022 at Chatham house
Boldly telling the world that he won't reveal his plans so his opponents will not steal with, u clapped and called him master strategy 🤣
Now the plans he doesn't want his opponents to know has backfired
U now want Obi to help u out😂
To support Tinubu, you have to first suspend every form of sanity as a human being sha

TemplarLandry:
Haha. Hobi the Agulu gbajuẹ boy.

When Tinubu made the same exact statement in 2022 at Chatham house
Boldly telling the world that he won't reveal his plans so his opponents will not steal it, u clapped and called him master strategist 🤣
Now the plans he doesn't want his opponents to know has backfired
U now want Obi to help u out😂
To support Tinubu, you have to first suspend every form of sanity as a human being sha

mycar:
Whatever apc spammers are using to evade NL spam bot needs to be studied else what is the rationale behind those useless posts from them?

Bros we go too drag una for this forum.. shey una think say na only una get bad mouth.. 🤘

Finally. This guy has seen something good

fergie001:
Peter Gregory Onwuabasi Obi

Boss, please when using elepsis next time; grammatical it should be only three dots.