The Nation Newspaper

Tag: STATE POLICE

  • Experts differ on state police at NILDS’ dialogue

    Experts differ on state police at NILDS’ dialogue

    Experts were divided yesterday over the necessity or otherwise of establishing a state police system in Nigeria.

    The experts aired their views at a ‘Roundtable National Dialogue on the Clamour for State Police System in Nigeria’, organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), in Abuja.

    The session was attended by political scientists, economists, sociologists, psychologists, lawyers, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other professionals.

    Profs. Ernest Ojukwu (SAN) and Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) were moderators for the two sessions, while Profs. Josephine Agbonika (SAN) and Etennibi Alemika were the keynote speakers.

    Read Also: Why we insist on state police, by Southern governors

    Some panelists supported the establishment of state police, while others kicked against it.

    Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, noted that the clamour for a state police system has become a subject matter of immense significance in the country’s security landscape.

  • Why we insist on state police, by Southern governors

    Why we insist on state police, by Southern governors

    • As chief security officers, we should have control
    • Abiodun is forum chairman

    Southern governors yesterday said having state police will give them more control over security decisions in their states.

    They believe locals are better placed to fight crime because they understand the terrain and language.

    The state helmsmen met under the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) in Abeokuta.

    They appointed host Governor Dapo Abiodun as chairman.

    Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, was named Vice Chairman.

    Also in attendance were Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Alex Otti (Abia), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Ademola Adeleke (Osun).

    Others are Bassey Otu (Cross River), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom).

    Deputy Governors Chinyere Ekomaru (Imo), Monday Onyeme (Delta) and Olayide Adelami (Ondo) represented Hope Uzodimma, Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori and Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

    Rivers State Governor, Similayi Fubara, was absent and was not represented.

    Abiodun replaced former Ondo governor, the late Rotimi Akeredolu.

    The governor, who featured on a national television last night, said the forum deliberated on state police, the political upheaval in Rivers, infrastructure and agriculture, among others.

    He said the 17 Southern governors were united in their call for state police.

    Abiodun said: “We all spoke with one voice in support of state policing.

    “We spoke with one voice in support of regional security outfits which almost all regions have set up.

    “The outfits are working hand in glove with the law enforcement agencies and providing them with intelligence and support.

    “We all know that we cannot have any meaningful development in the atmosphere of insecurity.

    “We all spoke with one voice in support of state policing, and regional security outfits, working hand-in-glove with the security outfits.

    “The governors are called state chief security officers. But, we know that the Commissioner of Police is appointed by the Inspector General of Police and is only answerable to the IG.

    “And when the governor needs to call the attention of the CP on an urgent task in his state, the governor will have to first clear with the IG.

    “What have we discovered?  In most cases, a policeman from Borno, Maiduguri, posted to Lagos or Ogun states, for instance.

    “Such an officer doesn’t understand the terrain, he doesn’t speak the language and he does not get the level of intelligence he needs.

    “By the time he is settling down to understand these factors, he is transferred to another state.

    “We’re calling for community police to tame insecurity in the state and the nation.

    “Under the state police arrangement, a policeman posted to his ward won’t have problems with language and intelligence.

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    “In that case, the policeman understands the community and the locals, language, the sentiments and, he knows the criminals within his territory.

    “It is also common knowledge that the federal police have a shortage of manpower.

    “We, as governors, are not in charge or control of our states as far as security is concerned.

    “Yet, we fund the federal police operations, yet we are not getting the best from them.  They don’t have enough personnel.

    “State policing is not something new.

    “We have several types of policing structure in other climes where we took our democracy from.”

    Speaking on local government tenure, Abiodun said it was unconstitutional for anybody to extend the tenure of constitutionally elected public servants.

    Referring to Rivers political quagmire where the House of Assembly extended the tenure of the local government chairmen, Abiodun said: “On local government administration, it is a constitutional issue that will be put to rest at a point in time.

    “When your tenure has expired, it stands to reason that your tenure has expired.

    “It is not up to the governor of that state or anybody else to extend the tenure of the local government chairmen.

    “The collective position of the governors is that it would be a dangerous precedent and an abuse of the democratic ethos for the tenure of an elected local government chairman to expire and for anyone to imagine that their tenure can be extended by one day.

    “I think that puts that matter to rest. If that is not the case, that becomes a precedent, a reference point, and the thing is that somebody will ask for a tenure extension.

    “Our democracy has evolved and we should not do anything to truncate the process.”

    Abiodun, who said the forum also agreed on a modal transport master plan for the region, noted that the governors were delighted with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the award of the coastal road project.

    “We spoke about infrastructure. For us to be regionally integrated, we must have the infrastructure for investment facilitation, promotion, for enhancing movement of goods and services.

    “On that note, we were unanimously appreciating President Tinubu for the construction of the coastal road.

    “This road connects almost all southern states.  It is a key enabler of economic development like no other. It will also create a lot of job opportunities.

    “We also spoke of the need for the Federal Government to transfer some of the Trunk A roads to the states if a state government is prepared to take on such roads.

    “We also agreed to have a modal transport master plan that allows us to connect rail, water and road transportation because we realised that transportation is key to enabling investment promotion, facilitation and the general wellbeing of our people.”

  • On the quest for state police

    On the quest for state police

    • By Kenechukwu Aguolu

    Sir: The call for state police resonates deeply with a fundamental yearning for safety and security. It embodies a collective aspiration for a society where lives and properties are safeguarded, and individuals can thrive without fear. The argument for state police rests on three pivotal points, each accentuating potential benefits that could significantly enhance the nation’s security landscape:

    The proposition of state police is centred on establishing a command and control structure closer to the communities they serve. This proximity promises faster response times to incidents and enables more immediate intervention during emergencies. By bridging the gap between law enforcement agencies and local communities, state police units can effectively address security threats with agility and precision.

    State police officers, being indigenous to their communities, are believed to possess an unparalleled understanding of local dynamics and crime patterns. This intimate familiarity equips them with the insights needed to devise targeted crime-fighting strategies tailored to the specific needs of each locality. By leveraging this deep-seated knowledge, state police units can effectively combat crime at its roots, thereby enhancing overall safety and security.

     There exists a prevailing belief that state police officers, hailing from the areas they serve, would demonstrate a heightened commitment to maintaining peace and order. This intrinsic connection to their communities fosters a sense of duty and responsibility, driving greater dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of residents. By forging strong bonds with the local populace, state police units can cultivate trust and cooperation, essential for effective community policing.

    However, it is crucial to acknowledge the historical context surrounding state police in Nigeria. Past instances of abuse led to its abolition during the military era. Also, concerns have been raised regarding the potential for overfamiliarity and bias among officers stationed in their localities. The close ties between law enforcement personnel and the communities they serve may lead to reluctance to enforce the law objectively, particularly when dealing with acquaintances or relatives. Additionally, doubts persist regarding the ability of state governments to adequately fund state police, posing significant challenges to the viability.

    Regardless of the chosen approach—whether through the introduction of state police or the maintenance of the current system—certain foundational elements are indispensable for building an effective policing:

    Right recruitment: The selection of individuals with integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to public service through rigorous screening processes is paramount. By upholding stringent standards in recruitment, law enforcement agencies can ensure that only the most qualified candidates are entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding communities.

    Adequate staffing: Nigeria’s police force currently falls short of international standards for officer-to-citizen ratios, underscoring the urgent need for increased staffing levels. Addressing this shortfall is crucial, particularly given the country’s security challenges. Adequate staffing not only enhances the effectiveness of policing efforts but also fosters a sense of security and reassurance among the populace.

    Training and equipment: Ongoing training programs are essential to equip officers with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their duties effectively. Additionally, providing police personnel with modern equipment and resources enhances their capacity to maintain law and order in their communities. By investing in training and equipment, law enforcement agencies can ensure that officers are adequately equipped to tackle emerging security threats.

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    Proper funding: Adequate financial investment in law enforcement is necessary to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of policing efforts. This includes budget allocations for operational expenses, infrastructure development, and technological advancements to enhance crime prevention and detection capabilities. By prioritizing funding for law enforcement, governments demonstrate a commitment to the safety and security of their citizens.

    Adequate welfare: Competitive salaries, allowances, accommodation, and comprehensive welfare packages are essential to attract and retain qualified officers. Providing life insurance plans and other benefits demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of law enforcement personnel and their families. By prioritizing officer welfare, the government can enhance morale and retention rates, ensuring effectiveness in policing efforts.

    While Nigeria has made commendable progress in reducing insecurity, it is imperative to recognize that security agents alone cannot solve the complex security challenges facing the nation. A holistic approach that addresses socio-economic factors, strengthens the justice system, and prioritizes education is essential.

    The pursuit of state police in Nigeria embodies a profound yearning for safety and security—a desire to create a society where individuals can live free from fear and insecurity. While challenges abound and scepticism persists, the potential benefits of state police cannot be ignored. By addressing historical concerns, investing in foundational elements of effective policing, and adopting a holistic approach to crime prevention, Nigeria can chart a path towards a safer and more prosperous future for all its citizens.

    •Kenechukwu Aguolu,

    Kenerek1@gmail.com

  • Gombe Gov backs State Police

    Gombe Gov backs State Police

    Gombe Governor and Chairman of the Northern State Governors’ Forum Inuwa Yahaya has thrown his weight behind the establishment of State Police, citing the need for decentralised security management.

    In an interview with journalists after meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja, Yahaya emphasised the importance of bringing security closer to the people.

    “State Police will enable us to monitor and implement security decisions swiftly, with tangible results,” he said, stressing that the current security architecture, where commanders answer to Abuja, hinders effective decision-making.

    Yahaya expressed confidence in the support of his people and other Nigerians for State Police, predicting easy passage of the bill through the National Assembly and State Assemblies.

    “The State Police issue is a constitutional matter that will have to go through the National Assembly and eventually the States individually because it needs two-thirds of the State Assemblies in Nigeria to endorse whatever position.

    “Personally and I believe the whole of the people of Gombe State are behind the idea of having State Police because that will take security closer to the people and we will be able to monitor more than somebody else monitoring or managing our own security.

    “I think that is the vision of the President with regard to his support for that and even everybody across the broad spectrum of Nigerians. I believe when the bill goes to the National Assembly it will have easy passage through the States and very soon because inadvertently, it is the States that are managing security now since almost  every State has its own arm of security that is supporting the  various security agencies.

    “Even though it is said that the Governors are the Chief Security Officers, the men on the ground commanding the security agencies, that is, the General Officers Commanding (GOC) or the Commissioner of Police, are answerable to their commanders here in Abuja but with State Police, we will be able to monitor the pulse and implement any decision hastily and there will be results,” he said. 

    On electricity supply, he announced Gombe and other North-East States are taking steps to boost power generation, leveraging the new electricity Act that allows states to generate, transmit, and market electricity.

    Read Also: State police will deepen internal security – Senate leader

    “Transmission and whatever electricity has been on the exclusive list before now but with the new electricity Act, it means that States can now do from generation to transmission and marketing.

    “Even at the last meeting of the North-East Governors, we resolved that each of us should generate 10 Megawatts of solar power so that we kick-start activities and all the Governors are amiable to working with the new electricity Act, knowing that so far, one leg has not been able to deliver us. Whatever we had before was not able to take us out of this situation,” the Governor added.

    The Governor also highlighted efforts to address out-of-school children in the Northern region, pledging to enroll and retain students from primary to tertiary levels.

    “That issue was top on the agenda of our last meeting because it is a very big menace that we are unfortunately contending with but mind you it is a build-up of the past; over 50 years or so of neglect of the educational system.

    “We are trying to see that this time around, with the window we’ve gotten especially with basic education as service delivery for all, the States are up and doing and we shall enrol the people and retain them so that they will continue from primary to secondary and even tertiary level. That is a herculean task and all the Governors are doing their best and we shall continue to do so,” he assured.

    Reflecting on his stewardship, Yahaya said he had a clear vision and mission for Gombe State, achieving significant progress in healthcare, education, infrastructure, social development, and economic investment over the past five years. 

    He assured his team would work hard to achieve remaining goals in the next three years.

  • 36 Speakers back State Police plan

    36 Speakers back State Police plan

    • ‘Give assemblies financial autonomy’

    Calls for the establishment of state police got the backing of speakers of the 36 Houses of Assembly yesterday.

    They expressed support for their which they believed will boost the push against insecurity.

    The speakers also urged the National Assembly to list the state police proposal among the bills that would be considered during the constitution amendment debate.

    The speakers lamented that most governors are “observing in the breach”, the constitutional provision of financial autonomy for Houses of Assembly.

    They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take further measures to mitigate the pains, hardship triggered by the removal of fuel subsidy and other policies initiated by the government to reboot the economy.

    Their positions were contained in a communique issued at the end of a meeting they held in Abuja under the aegis of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria.

    The communique which was made available to reporters was signed by Conference Chairman and Oyo State Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin.

    They pledged to approve the Bill on Creation of State Police if included in the proposed constitution review.

    The 1999 Constitution requires that at least 24 out of the 36 Houses of Assembly must endorse the bill to scale through.

    Many Nigerians argue that state police will curtail rising crime across the land.

    But the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, rejected the proposal, warning that the governors can abuse the outfit for political or personal gains and compromise human rights and national security.

    Egbetokun spoke at the national dialogue on state policing organised on April 22 by the House of Representatives in Abuja, with the theme: “Pathways to peace: Reimagining policing in Nigeria.”

    Egbetokun was represented at the event by Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Ben Okolo.

    Okolo who said opposition to state police was the opinion of the police leadership, curiously, recounted the day after the dialogue, claiming that he merely expressed his personal opinion.

    The Federal Government insisted there was no going back on the initiative.

    At the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima reiterated the President Bola Tinubu Administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the establishment of state police in the country.

    The IG stand drew flaks from a cross-section of Nigerians, including a one-time police boss, Sunday Ehindero, who expressed the belief that state police is the way to go.

    The speakers’ communique reads: “The Conference strongly advocates for state policing to check the negative trend of insecurity in our country.

    “To achieve this, the Conference appeals to the National Assembly, Presidency and other relevant stakeholders to leverage the ongoing constitution review exercise.”

    “The Conference of Speakers acknowledged the “courage of the President on his economic policies taken so far such as the removal of Petroleum product subsidy and the floating of the exchange rate.”

    They noted: “The unintended consequences of these policies are too harsh on the populace. We therefore, urge the Federal Government and State Governments to initiate sustainable policies with equal measure of courage to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

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    “The Conference observed that in spite of the constitutional provisions that grant Financial Autonomy to the State Legislature, the implementation has been observed in breach.

    “We therefore, call on all the relevant stakeholders to comply with all the provisions in the Constitution and not by breach.”

    The state assembly’ helmsmen appealed to the warring parties in Rivers State to sheath their sword.

    They said: “The Conference appeals to the relevant political leaders in Rivers State to explore peaceful means to resolve the near impasse situation between the Legislative and Executive Arms of government of the state.

    “We deliberated on a wide range (of) issues bordering on good governance in our country.  Experts on relevant topics made presentations in the course of the meeting.

    “The chairmen of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Nutrition and Food Security; and Committee on Inter Parliamentary Affairs, Chike Okafor and Mark Essiet respectively, also addressed the Conference on the mandates of their committees.”

  • UPDATED: 36 Assembly Speakers back State Police

    UPDATED: 36 Assembly Speakers back State Police

    Speakers of 36 Houses of Assembly on Thursday endorsed agitations for the establishment of state police to tackle insecurity in the country.

    They urged the National Assembly to include the proposal for state police among bills it will consider during their ongoing processes by the amend the constitution.

    They alao urged President Bola Tinubu to take further measures to mitigate the current hardship by Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidy and other economic policies.

    The Speakers under the aegis of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria made these assertions in a communique they issued at the end of their meeting in Abuja.

    The communique  was signed by Chairman, of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria Adebo Ogundoyin.

    They also pledged their readiness to approve the a Bill on creation of State police if included as part of the constitution review.

    The communique reads: “The Conference strongly advocates for state policing to check the negative trend of insecurity in our country.

    “To achieve this, the Conference appeals to the National Assembly, Presidency and other relevant stakeholders to leverage on the ongoing constitution review exercise.”

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    The Conference of Speakers acknowledged the “courage of the President on his economic policies taken so far such as the removal of Petroleum product subsidy and the floating of the exchange rate.”

    They noted that “the unintended consequences of these policies are too harsh on the populace.”

    They added: “We therefore, urge the Federal Government and State Governments to initiate sustainable policies with equal measure of courage to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

    “The Conference observed that in spite of the constitutional provisions that grant Financial Autonomy to the State Legislature, the implementation has been observed in breach.

    “We therefore, call on all the relevant stakeholders to comply with all the provisions in the Constitution and not by breach.”

    The state legislatures helmsmen also appealed to the warring parties in Rivers State politics terrain to sheath their sword.

    “The Conference appeals to the relevant political leaders in Rivers State to explore peaceful means to resolve the near impasse situation between the Legislative and Executive Arms of government of the state,” they said.

  • JUST IN: 36 Speakers back State Police

    JUST IN: 36 Speakers back State Police

    Speakers of the 36 Houses of Assembly in Nigeria on Thursday endorsed ongoing processes by the National Assembly to make provision for state policing in the nation’s constitution.

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    The Speakers made their resolution known at the end of their meeting in Abuja.

    The two chambers of the National Assembly are working to further alter some provisions in 1999 constitution.

    Details shortly…

  • Nigeria not ripe for state police

    Nigeria not ripe for state police

    Sir: Given the current state of insecurity in the country, many Nigerians have suggested the establishment of state police, an idea that has been in the front burner of national discourse for some time. More than 14 state governors have submitted proposals for the establishment of state police in their respective domains since the federal government indicated that it is considering the idea.

    Nigeria is a country with a huge landmass and a federal system of government. Countries like the U.S.A, which share some similarities with Nigeria, such as the diversity of population, the land mass, economy and social development, usually opt for a federal system of government and other features that go with it. For instance, the land mass of the U.S.A is almost like the whole of the African continent, from New York to Florida is about six hours by flight non-stop.

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    But, in the case of Nigeria, the push by the Bola Tinubu administration towards the establishment of state police may not be a good one. Not all Nigerians are agreement that the establishment of state police is the right way to go. For instance, 22 out of the 36 states are not convinced that the idea would work.

    Besides, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbotokun indicated at a recent town hall meeting organised to discuss the idea that Nigeria does not need state police.

    He said what the country needs is to build on the centralised policing system it has on ground; with better equipment, training and good remunerations like their counterparts in other parts of the world. In the past, the Nigeria Police Force was effective in maintaining law and order in the country. Then, to hear of operatives of the mobile police were on their way to an area or community was an indication that something wrong had been discovered in such area.

    We witnessed situations in the past where a mobile policeman jumped from the top of a storey building to the ground floor in the cause of his duty. The khaki and khaki uniform was a threat to many criminals. Therefore, state police may not be the answer. The major problem is that we do not have enough men and women in uniform. Besides, the force is not properly equipped for modern policing. The government should do the needful by equipping the police force to handle the current security challenges in the country.

    The problems of the state police will start from day one –recruiting village hoodlums who are known for various criminal activities in their localities, particularly people that do not possess sound educational foundation. The federal character structure of the Nigeria Police helps a lot in taking sides in the interest of ethnicity, tribe, religion and position.

    So, what is needed is a reinvigoration of the present force with good services and more hands. The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) should be merged with the Nigeria Police Force without delay. There is a need for a thorough screening of the personnel who got there through the back door. The NSCDC, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other similar agencies have no business existing as independent bodies.

    •Isaiah Ted Omobude,

    Jos, Plateau State.

  • The imperatives of state police

    The imperatives of state police

    By ‘Gbade Ojo

    Undoubtedly, one major glaring absurdity of Nigeria’s convoluting federal architecture is that of over centralization in all ramifications. Globally, there is no other federal state with power so concentrated at the centre as Nigeria. This has led to what students of federalism would regard as ‘federal immobilism’ with the concomitant effect of stress that has given birth to strident calls for both fiscal and political restructuring of the federation.

    It is ludicrous that the octopus federal government was contemplating chewing what it cannot swallow by nursing the idea of community policing in the face of palpable failure of the over centralized Nigeria Police. Now that the security reality on the ground has called for establishment of state police, one is shocked to the marrow that Inspector General of Police (IGP) who is supposed to be the arrow-head of the initiative, prefer the extant system of an octopus police structure under the command of one person called Inspector-General. A country of 120 million population by conservative estimate and land mass that can swallow many countries in Africa coupled with the gargantuan problem of hyper-ethnic instability syndrome in the midst of hundreds of ethnic nationalities where justice do not reign; the idea of state police becomes imperative which no doubt will promote community policing. Despite the benefits of technology and ICT; it is humanly difficult to police 774 local government areas (aside from the numerous local council development areas (LCDAs) all over the country. It is unimaginable for the IGP to ever contemplate being abreast of happenings in Gbada Efon village where I hail from in Ona-Ara Local Government of Ibadan in Oyo State. This is practically impossible. This is why most attacks by hoodlums and bandits are carried out in rural communities to embarrass the government.

    What the country needs for now in the face of an overwhelming security challenges all over the country no doubt is state police, which cannot be achieved by presidential fiat as some are made to believe but rather through careful constitutional amendments.  Presently, Nigeria as a federal state operates a central policing system. Article 2 (section 2) of the 1999 constitution (as amended in 2010) affirms that “Nigeria shall be a federation consisting of states and a Federal Capital Territory”. Article 214, section 2 however stipulates that “there shall be a Police Force for Nigeria”, which shall be known as the Nigerian Police Force, and subject to the provisions of this section, no other police force shall be established for the federation or any part thereof”. The combined effect of these provisions, as our legal luminaries would say is that although the Nigerian constitution recognizes two tiers of power with authorities to make exclusive or concurrent laws on stipulated areas, only one police authority is recognized by law to enforce laws made by both federal and state legislatures! It is perhaps against this background  that the former Attorney General and Minister  of Justice – Abubakar Malami –was critical of the Amotekun , the security initiative in the southwestern states, which no doubt has being copied by other part of the country to combat security challenges.

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    It is imperative to note that the provision of central policing has thrown up many challenges in our fledgling democracy, as recently noted by a two-term former governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimbi (of blessed memory) in a perceptive lecture he gave at the University of Ibadan, Department of Political Science that the most fundamental being the unprecedented level of violence and crime in the country. As any international visitor may note, more so that anyone visiting Nigeria for the first time, perusing our national dailies or follow social media will definitely think that the country is in a perpetual state of war with the deluge of crimes and violent cases across the country on a daily basis: Boko Haram insurgency, armed robberies, kidnapping for ransom, mob killings and assassinations with the addition of herdsmen wreaking havocs nationwide.

    At the heart of this security challenges is the structure of our policing. How is the police organized? How are its men recruited? How is the force funded? What is the indoctrination of the force? Who does the force report to? How nimble is the reporting authority? How conversant are they with the culture and language of the communities they police, how familiar are they with the terrain they superintend over? What is the relationship of the police commissioner with the state governor whom he is supposed to serve as the chief security officer of the state? And above all, what is the population size of the police?

    It is often stated that the personnel in Nigeria is now barely over half a million. Whereas, the real number may be far less, the police management is unwilling or unable to give us the exact figure of its membership – so we are all guessing. The fact is that the total numbers of the Police both officer and men vis-à-vis the United Nations (UN) requirement is absurd. It is not a surprise that many Nigerians die daily with avoidable deaths!

    Rather than Nigeria to benefit from the experience of its peer in the international system (federal states) such as the United States of America, Canada, India, Switzerland and the likes, the policing system in Nigeria has no bearing to what it should be in a federal state. For instance, the constitution of the United States allows the federal, state, local and even special districts like universities to perform police functions. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for instance, investigates inter-state crimes, among others, the state police enforce state laws and even supervise federal elections, city/township police enforce local laws while police authorities of special districts like schools enforce regulations of their jurisdictions. The relationships between all the police services are properly coordinated for the exchange of intelligence and prevention of crimes.

    On comparative basis, the federal government of Australia maintains police forces alongside the federating units. In Republic of Germany made up of the 16 Landers (equivalent of states), German constitution concedes most of police powers to the 16 Landers even though the federal government is also allowed to legislate on the subject. The constitution of Switzerland empowers the federating units to share policing functions with the Federal Government, same for Canada and India. Coming nearer home, Ethiopia operates a federal constitution in which article 52 sub-section 2(g) of its constitution expressly grants each federating states the power ‘to establish and administer a state police force, and to maintain public order and peace within the state’.

    Be that as it is, it is evident from the foregoing that Nigeria’s refusal to reflect the required dynamism of federal architecture in its policing structure is the exception rather than the rule in comparative federal systems. Even in both pre-colonial and immediate post-colonial Nigeria police establishments were highly decentralized and localized. Many of the units that were amalgamated into Nigeria operated diverse system of policing. In the old Oyo Empire, public security was provided by the Eshos. In Igboland, communities enforced societal rules with the use of age groups while the Dongaris were the law-enforcement agents in most of the communities in the areas that became Northern Nigeria. Thus, under colonialism, the colonial power established different police forces across the country until it brought all of them together in April, 1930 to form the Nigeria Police Force, with headquarters in Lagos. However, the Nigeria Police Force existed along with Local Government Police in the Western Region (called Akoda), and the Native Authorities in Northern Nigeria. For instance, the Local Government Police Law 1959 of the Western Region confirmed existing police forces in the region and authorized every local government council with the approval of the Minister of Local Government to establish a police force. Also, Section 105(7) of the 1963 Republican Constitution empowered the regions to establish police authorities at local government and regional levels.

    It is unfortunate that this system was abrogated when the military took over power in 1966. In his maiden broadcast as the Head of State, General Aguiyi Ironsi pronounced that ‘all local government forces and Native Authority Police Forces shall be placed under the overall command of the Inspector General. The police forces of native authorities and local councils were put under the operational control of the Inspector General of Police. The reason for this abrogation was the use of the local police forces to harass, intimidate and oppress political opponents. It is unfortunate that this centralization of police functions has been sustained both in the 1979 and 1999 constitutions.

    •Professor Ojo, teaches Political Science at the University of Ilorin.

  • IGP’s U-turn on state police

    IGP’s U-turn on state police

    • By Olabode Lucas

    At the recent dialogue on state policing organized by the House of Representatives, all the political heavyweights in the country like the former president, Goodluck Jonathan, former Head of State Abdulsalam Abubakar, Senate President Godwill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam and others all lent their support to the creation of state police. The only major voice of dissent at the dialogue on this issue came from the Nigerian Police Force through the paper presented by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ben Okolo on behalf of his boss, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

    In the paper, the IGP raised the issues of funding, welfare of the police, procurement of adequate and serviceable equipment as factors militating against the establishment of state policy as of now. The clincher in the paper, however, came from its stricture on our present intolerant political setup. It said: “It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force that Nigeria is yet to mature for the establishment of the state controlled police.”

    Further on our political intolerance, the Nigerian Police Force in the paper buttressed this with the following, “there is potential for abuse of power by state political leadership. State governors could use the Police Force within their control for political and personal gains and compromise human rights and safety,”

    On seeing that his views, as expressed in the paper presented on his behalf, were at variance with those in the political class, the IGP promptly made a complete U-turn on the issue within 24-hours. In a statement released by the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerians were told that the views expressed in the paper were solely the views of AIG Ben Okolo and that the stand of Nigerian Police Force on the issue would be made known later. This retraction is a bit curious because it is difficult to imagine that AIG Okolo would go to such a high profile gathering with his personal views on such a sensitive matter without clearance from the IGP.

    I was not at the Dialogue, but it would be interesting to know from people who attended how AIG Okolo introduced his presentation to his audience.

    My only quarrel with whole issue is that the decision on the creation of state police lies with the political class as it is a political issue, and the Nigerian Police Force, being subordinate to the political class cannot dictate whether state police should be created or not. If the Force has any view, it should be given in private to the relevant political class. However, despite this reservation, I think Nigerians should examine critically the views expressed in the paper presented by AIG Ben Okolo. We should not throw away the baby with the bath water.

    The issue raised in the paper on the possibility of state police being used by state governors for personal and political gains, thereby compromising human rights and safety is very pertinent in our present political dispensation. Judging by the present political situations in virtually all the states in Nigeria, where everything revolves around the governors, it is my view that state police would certainly be used by governors in their states for heinous political purposes, as was the case during the First Republic. During the First Republic, we had Local Government Police Force in Western Region controlled by the regional government and the Native Authority Police in the Northern Region controlled by the Northern Regional government. It was only the Eastern Nigeria Government that did not have any regional Police Force. These regional police establishments in the western and northern regions were used as sordid political instruments to oppress political opponents, like Adegoke Adelabu, Mojeed Agbaje and Richard Akinyemi in the West and Aminu Kano, J. S. Tarka, Ibrahim Imam and J.S. Olawoyin in the North. Many innocent people were sent to their untimely graves by the heinous activities of these regional police in the northern and western regions of those days.

    In addition, many political opponents went to their graves with scars of being ex-convicts as a result of political victimization instigated by the people in power in those two regions through the use of the combination of the local police and customary courts which were another instrument of political victimization then. I am not saying there was no political victimization in Eastern Region where there was no regionally controlled police.  E. O. Eyo an opposition leader was victimized by the government of Michael Okpara in the Eastern Region through another means.

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    How do we guarantee that we are not going to have a repeat of what happened in the First Republic if we again introduce state police? Our political situation may likely be worse with the present political dispensation where in most states, the governors have turned themselves to local dictators. In the state, the governor muzzles the local government councils, pocket the state Assembly and the judiciary. In most states, local government elections have become a farce where the governing parties usually win 100% of the seats. This even surpasses what happened at the local council elections during the First Republic.

    During the Dialogue, Emeritus Cardinal Onaiyekan warned that the issues of funding, welfare of the police and procurement of equipment should be addressed before the establishment of state police. This is achievable if there is money but with our torrid economic situation, this may be difficult to achieve presently. However, apart from all these issues, the most formidable obstacle to the successful implementation of state policing is the attitude of our politicians. Our politicians like to take the advantage of their positions to entrench themselves in power to the detriment of their opponents and political norms. President Jonathan also in the Dialogue rushed ahead of himself by saying that “the issue today is not whether to establish state police but how it should be operated”. This is well said but it is a well-known fact that in this country, a well-articulated system has a way of being rendered ineffective and manipulated by our self-serving politicians. We all know that we have one of the best electoral laws in the world, but our politicians are known to manipulate the laws for their advantages.

    There is no doubt that Nigeria is beset by numerous security challenges, such as kidnapping, banditry, fiendish Boko Haram insurgency, armed robbery, rife political agitations and cultism and ritual killings, all of which needed to be tackled by more policing. We need more policemen and women, but I think we should not because of this rush to establish state police until we can sanitize our political system.

    In the meantime, the way forward is for the federal government to employ more policemen and women as the present police/people ratio in our country is abysmally low. In addition to the massive recruitment in the Police Force, the Police Council where the state governors have statutory roles and functions, should be revived and made more functional. The Council should meet regularly unlike the present situation. We should not be in a hurry to rush into a trap of creating another security octopus that can be manipulated to heat up our searing and unstable politically system.

    •Professor Lucas writes from Old Bodija, Ibadan.