National dialogue: Nigeria not ripe for State Police, says IGP

 

 

Jonas Ezieke, Abuja

 

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun has criticised the State Police bill, stressing that Nigeria is not matured for State Police.

He spoke on Monday at a national dialogue on State Police organised by the House of Representatives held at Intercontinental Hotel, formerly Sheraton Hotel in Abuja with the theme:‘Pathways to Peace: Re-imagining Policing in Nigeria’.

The IGP, who was represented by Ben Okolo, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, said Nigeria is not ready for a decentralised Police Force.

He said: “It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force that Nigeria is yet to mature for the establishment of state-controlled police.

“There have been renewed calls for the establishment of State Police following an uptick in kidnappings, banditry and violent attacks across the country.

“On February 15, the federal government set up a committee to explore the creation of State Police, amid the spate of insecurity in the country.

“On February 20, a bill to establish State Police passed second reading at the House of Representatives”.

According to him, rather than create State Police, the challenges mitigating against effective policing in Nigeria should be addressed.

These he said include, inadequate manpower, inadequate operational equipment such as vehicles, arms and ammunition, communication equipment, drones, aerial surveillance cameras, security surveillance helicopters, armoured vehicles, and inadequate training of personnel.

He noted that “these challenges have impacted negatively on the performance of police personnel” adding that the proposed State Police is open to abuse from powerful state governors.

“There is the potential for abuse of power by the state political leadership. State governors could use the police force under their control for political or personal gain and compromise human rights and security. There would also be a conflict of jurisdiction,” he noted.

He also proposed that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) should be merged to become a department in the police.

“In view of this, the police leadership recommended the above instead of creating state police,” he said.

He said the recruitment of police personnel into the force should be increased by at least 30,000 annually to meet the minimum policing standard of the United Nations.

Meanwhile, the IGP contrasted with that of Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, Minister of Police Affairs, and former President Goodluck Jonathan, who backed the establishment of State

Police.

Gaidam highlighted the merits of implementing State Police to include enhanced local responsiveness, improve crime prevention, and strengthen security at the grassroots level.

He stated this during his goodwill message at the National Dialogue on State Policing with a theme: Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria held at the Abuja Intercontinental Hotel (formerly Sheraton Hotel & Towers), Abuja.

The Minister proposed a model for implementing state policing in Nigeria, suggesting a decentralized structure where each state manages its police force under a framework that ensures cooperation and coordination with federal agencies.

According to him, “This model would involve recruiting, training, and equipping state police officers to meet professional standards while ensuring accountability and oversight mechanisms are in place”.

In addition, Gaidam recommended an institutional and legal framework that delineates the roles, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of State Police forces within the broader national security architecture. “This framework should include mechanisms for information sharing, collaboration, and coordination between state and federal agencies to address cross-border and transnational security challenges effectively,” stressed.

He reiterated the need for a comprehensive national dialogue involving stakeholders at all levels to deliberate on implementing State Police in Nigeria, taking into account the unique challenges and opportunities present in the country’s diverse socio-political landscape.

“This dialogue should aim to build consensus on the way forward and develop a roadmap for the phased implementation of state policing, ensuring that it contributes to enhancing security, upholding the rule of law, and protecting the rights of all citizens across the nation”.

Gaidam noted that the recent spate of kidnappings, banditry, activities of terrorists, and communal clashes have cast a dark shadow over our country, causing fear, pain, and uncertainty among our people.

He added that the issues not only threaten lives but also have severe repercussions on our economy, social cohesion, and overall development.

“We must come together to address this critical issue and work towards finding sustainable solutions that will ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians,” he added..

 

Gaidam however acknowledged that the state police force is not without its challenges and one potential disadvantage is the risk of political interference and abuse of power at the state level.

He said “without proper checks and balances, state police forces could be manipulated for political gain or to suppress dissent, leading to a deterioration of the rule of law and human rights abuses.

Meanwhile, former President, Dr. Jonathan in his remarks stated that “we do not need to debate about the creation of the state police as the issue has been concluded and what we need to discuss is its operation in the country.

In his words, there is no way “we can manage internal security if the state government cannot have state police and the issue is how it operates within the national security architecture. We should concentrate on how it would not be abused by state actors and police must not be used for the advantage of sitting governors and the use of police for elections has to be reviewed”.

He stated that with the spate of kidnappings, the issue of state police is non-negotiable.

“So the National Assembly needs to look into all these. These are the areas that we have to concentrate. The issue of the need for states to have their own police is not negotiable. There is no way we can continue this kidnapping that is going on in this country,”

Jonathan, however, added that for state police to be implemented, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be rejigged.

“So if we are talking about state police, we must also rejig INEC, and the police must not be used against or to the advantage of any political party.

“The issue of voting, the polling booths of INEC, and the use of police during elections has to be reviewed by the National Assembly,” Jonathan added.

 

Evolving security challenges make State Police desirable – Speaker Abbas

 

.As Abdulsalami counsels Reps

 

Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen on Monday, said the emerging challenges have rendered the current unitary policing system under the Nigeria Police Force ineffective, leading to calls for its decentralization by way of having state police.

Abbas also noted that the current security architecture in Nigeria has been overstretched by the numerous security challenges.

He, however, stated that the House remains neutral in the debates for and against creation of state police.

He made this known in Abuja on Monday at the National Dialogue on State Policing, which the House organised following proposal to decentralise the current Nigeria Police Force and empower states to create and operate their own policing system police.

The proposal for state police is part of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution by the 10th National Assembly.

The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and 14 others had sponsored the bill seeking to alter the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to empower the states to establish their own policing outfits.

The House had on February 20, 2024, passed for second reading, the bill seeking to create police structures in each of the states of the federation.

Speaker Abbas stated: “Our mission here is simple: to deliberate the future of policing in Nigeria, reflecting on our historical context and aligning our actions with the demands of our diverse and dynamic populace and daunting contemporary security challenges that have stretched our existing system to a breaking point.

 

“The concept of state police involves decentralising law enforcement functions to the state level, thereby allowing for more localised and responsive policing tailored to the unique needs of each State.

“However, Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution establishes the Nigeria Police Force as unitary police ‘for the Federation or any part thereof.’ However, as noted earlier, evolving security challenges and other institutional and structural challenges have severely affected the general effectiveness of the police.”

He added: “As you are mostly aware, this deficit has resulted in the military engaging in policing functions in all States of the Federation, including the FCT. In turn, this has also overstretched the armed forces and affected their effectiveness in combatting other broader security challenges, including those that threaten the territorial integrity of Nigeria.”

However, the Speaker admitted that many have argued that a decentralised and community-based approach to policing has become imperative to empower the states to address the complex security challenges in the context of their local environment and peculiarities.

“Some  see the current centralised structure of the police as a negation of ‘true federalism’. Several countries structured as Federations have well-established state, provincial, or regional police that exercise authority over relevant sub-national jurisdictions and collaborate on law enforcement matters with national or federal police, where both exist,” he added.

Abbas listed the issues he thought were critical to the overall conversation on the merits and demerits of state policing, and its desirability or otherwise for Nigeria.

He said: “First and foremost, it is imperative to acknowledge that the push for reforming our police forces is not merely desirable but necessary. We are at a stage where public trust in law enforcement is teetering.

 

“Also, the burden of policing the vast geographical expanse of our country and a rapidly expanding population warrants a reform of the current structure. The need for a system that maintains law and order and upholds every Nigerian’s dignity and rights cannot be overstated. Reform is essential to heal and to build – rebuilding trust, rebuilding effectiveness, and rebuilding our shared commitment to justice.”

Second, he noted that, whereas most Nigerians agree on the need to reform policing, that is usually where the consensus ends, stating that “there is no agreement on how best to proceed with the reform or the best policing model for Nigeria.”

He said: “In considering the path forward, we must recognise that no one-size-fits-all solution exists. The vast diversity of Nigeria, with over 300 ethnic groups and a range of geographic, economic, and social conditions, requires a policing model that is adaptable and sensitive to local contexts. As we explore the models of state policing that have been successful in other nations, we must be judicious in adapting these frameworks to fit our unique Nigerian context.

“Furthermore, it is also important to remind ourselves that decentralised policing is not alien to Nigeria. Historically, during both the colonial and immediate post-colonial periods, Nigeria operated under a system where local police forces played significant roles in maintaining public order specific to their regions.”

He recalled that policing in colonial times was purely decentralised, as evidenced by the Lagos Police Force, Hausa Constabulary and Niger Coast Constabulary.

“The structure was maintained even after the merger of the Northern and Southern Protectorates, with the creation of the Northern Nigeria Police and the Southern Nigeria Police,” he said.

“In fact, under the First Republic, these forces were first regionalised before their subsequent nationalisation. However, subsequent civilian and military governments adopted a rigidly centralised pattern for the Nigeria Police,” he added.

Noting that decentralised policing is not an entirely new proposition, he said the historical precedent supports the notion that a decentralised approach can be beneficial and effective if properly managed.

He added: “However, we must proceed with caution. There is a palpable fear among our citizens – a fear of potential tyranny and the misuse of police powers if control is devolved to the State level. These concerns are not unfounded and must be addressed frontally, without bias or sentiments. This emphasises the need for robust frameworks that ensure accountability, transparency, and equitable service delivery across all states.

“Equally important are setting stringent national standards, establishing oversight bodies, and involving communities in the policing process.”

While also noting that the House is aware of the divisive and polarising arguments surrounding the issue under review, he said: “Let me state categorically that the House and indeed the National Assembly does not have a fixed position. Our role is to facilitate a dialogue and generate consensus.”

He recalled how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, committed to overhauling and transforming the Nigeria Police Force into a modern, professional and accountable institution is evident and commendable.

He also recalled how the President and state governors, earlier in the year, opened up the conversation on ‘the possibility of setting up state policing.’

According to him, the President had set up a Constitution Review Committee in 2023, comprising the National Security Adviser, Chairman of the Police Service Commission, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to make recommendations towards “comprehensive” police reforms, particularly because no extensive and systematic reforms had taken place in the Nigerian Police Force since its creation in 1861.

“Recent attempts, including the Police Repeal and Re-enactment Act of 2020, and the Police Trust Fund Act of 2019, were significant first steps but not nearly as far-reaching as necessary. Therefore, this forum is the House’s effort to support the vision of the President and further the discussion on police reforms and multi-level policing.

“This is in line with the constitutional mandate of the National Assembly to make laws for the order, peace and good governance of the country as contained in the 1999 Constitutions.

“It is also in line with our Legislative Agenda priorities to undertake judicial reform, promote rule of law and human rights; streamline and improve the constitutional reform process; and improve national security.”

He pointed out that as legislators, the House was tasked with crafting laws that address people’s immediate needs and anticipate and mitigate future challenges.

“Our role in security law-making is to ensure that any initiative, such as establishing state policing, adheres to our Constitution and aligns with the broader goals of national security and public welfare,” he stated.

He added that legislative oversight is essential to ensure that these laws are implemented effectively and continue to serve the best interests of the Nigerian people.

“Through our committees and investigative processes, the National Assembly has a duty to monitor, review, and refine the operations of security agencies to prevent any abuses of power and safeguard citizens’ rights and freedoms,” he said.

The Speaker specially thanked President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, who was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, GCON, noting that “your presence here signifies the importance attached by this government to national security.”

He equally appreciated former President Jonathan, GCFR, and ex-Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, GCFR, “for lending their voices to this national discourse.”

He noted: “Your unique position as former Head of State and President means that you bring enormous experience to the issue being discussed here today. Your insights will no doubt greatly enhance the quality of today’s dialogue.”

 

In his goodwill message, ex-President Jonathan stated that the issue of state policing was a settled matter that is “non-negotiable,” adding that the debates should rather be on the structure and operation of the proposed security outfit.

The former president recalled how a security outfit was created in Bayelsa State to complement the federal police in tackling piracy, kidnapping and other crimes that were prevalent in the Niger Delta.

Similarly, General Abubakar called for caution in the design and implementation of the proposed state policing, especially concerning political and state actors.

The national dialogue fulfilled Speaker Abbas’ commitment to causing reforms in the security and other sectors.

The Speaker had on January 30, 2024, at the first plenary of the House in the year, announced plans to convoke a national conference on security.

“As we proceed with our legislative duties, our priorities are clear,” Speaker Abbas had stated, adding that with the Legislative Agenda of the House, the legislative chamber intended to “achieve significant mileage towards actualising the targets across the eight thematic areas.”

 

Our aim is to enact laws, reforms for collective welfare of Nigerians-Deputy Speaker Kalu

 

Also, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has said that the principal aim of the parliament with regards to the State Police bill is to enact laws and pursue reforms that will benefit the collective welfare of the nation.

Acknowledging concerns expressed in some quarters about possible abuse of the policing system at the state level when established, the deputy speaker allayed the fears, saying that the decisions to restructure Nigeria’s policing system is not intended to serve the interests of any individual or political faction.

Accoding to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu stated that Kalu made the submissions at a one day National Dialogue on State Policing themed “Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria” organized by the leadership of the House of Representatives with support from Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), UK International Development and the United Nations Development Progragramme ( UNDP) on Monday in Abuja.

Making reference to some jurisdictions which have since embraced multiple layered system of policing, the deputy speaker said it has achieved some success.

He said: “In various jurisdictions worldwide, multi-layered policing systems have been implemented with varying degrees of success.

Opposition voices argue that introducing multiple layers of

policing could lead to a fragmentation of authority, with different agencies competing for resources and jurisdictional control.

“This could result in confusion and inefficiency in law enforcement efforts. Critics also fear that decentralizing law enforcement powers could increase the risk of abuse of power by local or state-level authorities. Without adequate oversight and accountability mechanisms, there may be instances of corruption, political

interference, or human rights violations.

“Given Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and regional landscape, opponents caution that multi-layered policing could exacerbate existing tensions and inequalities. There is concern that certain ethnic or regional groups may feel marginalized or unfairly targeted by local or state police forces, leading to social unrest or conflict.

“In addition, implementing a multi-layered policing system requires

significant financial and logistical resources. Opponents argue that Nigeria may not have the capacity to adequately fund and support multiple layers of law enforcement agencies, especially in remote or economically disadvantaged areas.

“While opponents of multi-layered policing in Nigeria raise valid concerns, it is essential to address these fears and offer reassurances regarding the potential benefits and mitigating strategies.

“We recognize that the decisions we make regarding the restructuring of Nigeria’s policing system are not intended to serve the interests of any individual or political faction. Rather, we aim to enact laws and reforms that benefit the collective welfare of our nation. It is important to remember that political leaders, including governors, come and go, but the institutions and systems we establish endure. By focusing on the greater good and the long-term interests of our society, we can transcend partisan divides and ensure that our laws and policies withstand the test of time.”

Kalu however assured that the national assembly will provide the right frameworks, legislations and oversight that will make state policing work better for Nigerians.

“I want to assure you that the National Assembly, and particularly the House of Representatives, is fully committed to providing the right frameworks, legislation, and oversight to make state policing work for the betterment of Nigerians. We understand the importance of getting this right. Throughout this dialogue, we will delve into critical issues, gather valuable insights, and explore data-driven approaches. The information and recommendations gathered here will be crucial in shaping the future of policing in Nigeria

“We are optimistic that through collaborative efforts and a commitment to evidence-based solutions, we can establish a policing system that is not only effective in combating crime but also earns the trust of Nigerians and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Together, we can pave the pathways to a more peaceful and secure Nigeria”, Kalu said.

 

End