State Police Can't Fix Nigeria's Security Alone, CSOs Tell Federal Government

Civil society groups are warning the federal government not to see state police as the only answer to Nigeria's growing security problems. They say the government must also tackle social issues and poor governance that lead to crime and violence.

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Africana League, and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) shared this message during a webinar hosted by CAPPA on Tuesday.

In a statement on Wednesday, CAPPA Media and Communications Officer Robert Egbe said the webinar was titled “Insecurity and State Policing in Nigeria: The Way Forward.” This comes as the National Assembly works on a constitutional amendment that would let states create their own police forces.

The House of Representatives passed the State Police Bill on July 23, following an earlier approval from the Senate. However, this amendment needs at least two-thirds support from the 36 state Houses of Assembly to be added to the Constitution.

During the webinar, RULAAC's Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma said we should not see insecurity as just a policing issue. He pointed out that poor governance, poverty, unemployment, corruption, lack of accountability, weak institutions, communal conflicts, and political exclusion are key factors causing insecurity in the country.

“Police can respond to crime, but they cannot eliminate the structural conditions that produce it. No restructuring of police institutions alone will solve Nigeria’s security crisis,” Mr Nwanguma said.

He also noted that while local policing might help address specific security problems, state police could repeat past abuses if proper protections are not in place. He called for standards in recruitment, training, and discipline, plus independence from political control.

Mr Nwanguma also pushed for civilian oversight, transparent complaint systems, and reliable funding. He warned against using state police to intimidate voters or silence political opponents. “Without these safeguards, decentralisation may simply transfer abuse from Abuja to the state capitals,” he added.

He urged the National Assembly to involve civil society groups, professional bodies, traditional institutions, youth groups, security experts, and others in shaping the state policing plan.

Adding her voice, Glory Ukwenga, Executive Director of Africana League, said young people must have a clear role in any police reform in Nigeria. She pointed out that young people are both major players and victims of insecurity but are often left out of discussions on the new state police framework.

Ms Ukwenga called for youth representation on state police service commissions and police community relations committees. She also suggested forming youth advisory councils on security and having structured talks with youth groups about policing oversight and performance evaluation.

Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, said having local police could help them respond better to communities, but Nigeria first needs to decide what kind of police service it wants. “The fundamental issue is the philosophy behind the kind of policing we want to have in Nigeria. Do we want a police service that communities can relate with? Or do we just want to instil fear so that the elites and those in authority can exert violence on the people?” he asked.

He stressed that policing should respect human rights and involve communities. “The police should not be instruments of fear and intimidation. Human rights should be protected,” he said. He questioned if state police would stay under political control or be accountable to the communities they serve.

Mr Oluwafemi linked insecurity to the decline of public services and the lack of access to education, water, electricity, good roads, and jobs. He cautioned against rushing constitutional changes just because of security issues. Nigeria should first learn from the weaknesses of current systems before creating new ones.

Concerns have been raised about governors using state police against political rivals. Under the proposed system, governors will appoint state police commissioners, who need approval from their state Houses of Assembly. Governors can also issue lawful directives on public safety and order.

Political scientist and development consultant Jibrin Ibrahim shared his thoughts in a June 26 opinion piece. He supports police forces controlled by states but fears how it will work in Nigeria. He noted that the worsening security situation has raised support for state-controlled police, which he believes are closer to local issues.

However, he questioned who would define a security threat and warned that state-controlled police could worsen ethnic and religious tensions if governors use them for personal gain. The proposed framework includes safeguards to limit such issues.

It states that a state police commissioner cannot arrest or use force against anyone for criticizing the government unless it follows the law. There are also ways to challenge directives that are seen as illegal or not meeting national standards.

A constitutional lawyer, Soliu Bakare, said that while state policing is a good idea, there are valid fears of political misuse. He believes those concerns should not stop Nigeria from moving forward with state police. “There is no system that cannot be abused; even all the systems that we have in place now are being abused in one way or another,” he said.

He added that constitutional protections can help minimize abuses. Mr Ibrahim also pointed out issues in the current Nigeria Police Force, such as focusing resources on protecting VIPs rather than regular policing.

The CSOs argued that the success of state policing will depend on whether it improves security and prevents political interference while protecting citizens' rights. They called on the federal government and lawmakers to ensure that any new police structure is professional, accountable, and responsive to communities, while also addressing poverty, unemployment, weak institutions, and other issues that continue to fuel insecurity.