Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin, on Monday expressed opposing views on the ongoing debate over the creation of state police.
Speaking at a constitutional review legislative dialogue themed “Nigeria’s Peace and Security: The Constitutional Imperative”, Egbetokun argued that the Nigerian Police Force should be strengthened and better funded instead of creating state police structures.
Citing Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Police Chief emphasised that the law currently provides for a single national police force and prohibits the establishment of any other police force for the federation or its parts.
However, Ogundoyin countered the IGP’s stance, stating that Nigeria’s escalating security challenges demand a multi-level policing approach, including the establishment of state police to enhance local security responsiveness.
The dialogue, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser, brought key stakeholders together to debate the constitutional and practical implications of restructuring the country’s security architecture.
He said, “These constitutional provisions make clear the centralised character of policing in Nigeria and the operational authority entrusted to the Inspector General of Police under the supervision of the President and Police Council.
The Police boss said, “As we gather here this morning to review the constitutional underpinnings of our security framework, we must admit that legal centralisation without operational decentralisation has imposed several restrictions on the Nigerian Police Force to effectively discharge its mandate across Nigeria’s diverse terrain.
“Our national security landscape is growing increasingly complex. From the insurgency in the northeast, banditry and kidnapping in northwest and central regions, to secessionist violence in the southeast, and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, we are confronted with a multifaceted array of tracks, each exposing gaps not only in our security capabilities, but more fundamentally in our constitutional architecture and constitutional institutional coordination mechanisms.
“The 1999 constitution, the way it is, has created certain omissions that impede the effective performance of the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies in best addressing these challenges.
“This includes the lack of clarity on interagency command in joint operations, absence of a constitutional framework for intelligence sharing and fusion, restrictions on subsidiary policing frameworks like community and state policing, and constitutional silence on vagueness of border security.
“The challenges underscore the objective to recalibrate our national security framework, especially as it pertains to command authority, policy structure, intelligence coordination, and the legislative underpinnings that govern them. Most importantly, previous national security summits and engagements have resulted in strong communiques and robust recommendations.
“It is therefore commendable that this dialogue is not just designed to generate ideas, but to drive constitutional amendments and legislative reforms, gaps which do not address areas of operational command, intelligence, fusion and policing jurisdiction.
“These ambiguities, at times hampered effective joint operations, blurred lines of responsibility and created avoidable friction.
“As the Inspector General of Police, I must emphasise the importance of clarifying operational command authority, especially in joint theatres where federal, state, and local security companies must work seamlessly.
“A lack of positional clarity in this area can and has led to judicial disputes, diluted accountability and delayed tactical responses in life-threatening situations. Furthermore, intelligence sharing mechanisms require not only statutory reinforcement but constitutional embedding.
“Without a clear constitutional framework for timely, secure, and mandatory intelligence exchange, we cannot effectively preempt or neutralise imagined trends”.
Speaking on the agitation for state police, he said, “One of the most pressing and controversial issues under discussion today is the proposal to amend the constitution to allow for the establishment of state police, including the evaluation of HB 617, which seeks to provide legislative authority for this.
“Let me state unequivocally that the National Police Force acknowledges the rationale behind the demand for state police, including the desire for locally responsive policing, quicker reaction to community-level threats, and decentralised law enforcement presence.
“However, our assessment based on current political, institutional and socioeconomic realities suggests that Nigeria is not yet decisionally or politically prepared for the initialisation of police powers to the state level.
“Key concerns include the possibility of political misuse of police powers at the state level, lack of funding capacity by most states to maintain and equip a state control force, the potential for fragmentation of national security, intelligence and command, the absence of a regulatory architecture to ensure standard and operational cohesion.
“Instead of fragmenting our policy authority, we propose that the focus of constitutional and legislative reform be directed towards strengthening the Nigerian Police Force through improved funding and autonomy, establish state and community policing frameworks under the Nigerian Police Force’s provision, standardize recruitment, training, and discipline across any policing functions.
“We urge the National Assembly to consider legislative reforms that prioritise enhanced federal policing capacity while allowing for structured auxiliary support from sub-national units under strict constitutional and operational safeguards.”
However, on his part, Ogundoyin said the state Houses of Assembly have an unwavering commitment to strengthen the nation’s security institutions and will continue to inspire confidence in the connected resolve to safeguard this nation.
He said, “As the Speaker’s House of Assembly nationwide, we know exactly where the issue pinches when it comes to security because we all face various types of insecurity in our various states.
“We know that the president’s commitment is unwavering in strengthening our security institutions and to continue to inspire confidence in our collective resolve.
The theme of this dialogue, Nigeria’s case of security constitutional imperatives, is not only apt, but comes at a defining moment of our constitutional journey. As presiding officers of the 36th State House of Assembly, we are first-hand witnesses to the alarming toll that insecurity continues to take on our lives, livelihood and government.
“From insurgency in the northeast, banditry and kidnapping in the northwest and North Central to herders and farmers clashes in the North Central and also all across the South, which directly affects food security, which is another issue that is very important for us to address and protect.
“Therefore, this is an opportunity to align our legislative priorities with the realities faced by our people ensuring that the constitutional and legal framework of security evolves to be the present and future challenges of the Nigerian police force and other agencies who despite working under extreme challenging conditions continue to make sacrifices to protect our nation.
“Yet it is now evident that a centralised policing structure, no matter how well-intentioned, has become overstretched. It is on this basis that the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria subscribe partially to the establishment of state police and constitutional imperative.
“This is not merely a political position; it is a patriotic and strategic necessity. We recognise that the concerns have been raised regarding the potential abuse, the capacity, the limitations and inter-jurisdictional conflict.
“But these are not insurmountable challenges because everyone at the present situation of things. The Nigeria Police Force also faces challenges, and the state government across the federation also supports them in their day-to-day work.
“With constitutional safeguards, clear command structures, legislative clarity, independent oversight mechanisms, and well-defined frameworks for inter-agency collaboration, state police can become a force for justice, accountability, and grassroots protection.
“This is the voice of the subnational in this federation. Whether we like it or not, we have to recognise that the 36 states and the FCT make up Nigeria, and the Nigerian people are here calling for state police. However, we’ll get it done.
“We recognise the concerns also that. Beyond state policing, the conference also lends its voice to the need for enhanced intelligence sharing and interagency coordination, improved funding, training, and welfare for security personnel, a stronger legal framework to address emerging threats such as cybercrime, transnational terrorism, and arms reformation.
“As just as the chairman of the EFCC has also pointed out, with new challenges, we have to also evolve solutions to it. Your Excellencies, the swingish guests, we are confident that the outcome of this dialogue will not only enrich the ongoing constitutional review process for those who need a ground law for sustainable peace, strengthen institutions, and restore public trust in our collective ability to protect Nigeria.
The conference of speakers stands fully committed to supporting the vision, and we are ready to play our part in ushering a new era of constitutional clarity and national security reforms. We owe this to our people, we owe this to Nigeria, and we owe it to the next generation.
