Tinubu's Plan for State Police is a Good Move, Ex-UNILAG Professor

Lai Olurode, a retired Sociology Professor from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has called President Bola Tinubu’s plan for state police a timely and bold step to tackle Nigeria’s ongoing security issues.

Mr Olurode said on Thursday that the president deserves praise for suggesting changes to the constitution that would let states set up their own police forces across Nigeria’s 36 states.

This proposal is part of the Constitution Alteration Bill currently being reviewed in the legislature. It aims to reform Nigeria’s governance and security system.

Mr Olurode pointed out that past governments since 1999 have recognised the problems with Nigeria’s centralised police system. But they hesitated to make major changes because of the political risks involved.

“For taking this bold step, President Tinubu deserves a pat on the back. This was long overdue. Previous Presidents likely avoided this major constitutional change because they feared backlash,” he said.

The retired professor noted that Nigeria’s current police system, which mostly comes from colonial times, has struggled to handle the country’s growing security issues. These include banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, community conflicts, and political violence.

“But for many years, some Governors have acted ‘recklessly’ by forming their own security groups when they felt the Nigeria Police could not manage the rising security problems like banditry, kidnapping, political violence, and armed robbery,” he said.

The state police proposal is now with the state Houses of Assembly. At least two-thirds of the states must approve it before any changes to the constitution can happen.

While there are worries that state police might be misused by politicians or lead to clashes with federal law enforcement, Mr Olurode believes these concerns should not stop Nigeria from making the necessary changes for a diverse and populous country.

“The fears of political misuse and conflicts with the Federal police should not freeze our thoughts on the need for state police in a diverse and large country like Nigeria.

“With time, Nigeria will accept that the Federal police must work with state police for our safety, protection of lives, and to uphold our citizenship rights,” he said.

Mr Olurode shared that, based on his community experience, local security groups and regular police often work well together. Local police get valuable information and help from community groups.

The debate over state police has been a hot topic in Nigeria for many years. Supporters say that having state police will improve intelligence gathering, community involvement, and quick responses to security threats. Critics argue that governors could misuse state police to target political rivals.

This issue has gained attention again as insecurity worsens in many parts of the country. There are growing calls for a restructuring of Nigeria’s federal system. President Tinubu has shown support for state policing as part of efforts to improve security and governance at the state level.

On June 11, the House of Representatives passed a bill to amend the constitution to allow states to create their own police forces. The Senate finished reviewing this proposal on June 24 after President Tinubu sent the Constitution Alteration Bill to them a day earlier.

The proposed amendment aims to change Nigeria’s solely federal police system into one that includes both a Federal Police Service and State Police Services. But before it can be added to the constitution, it still needs approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly.