The Diocese of Okrika, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rivers state, has thrown its weight behind the agitation for the creation of state police.
The diocese insisted that establishing state police would help reduce the burden of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and tackle insecurity in many parts of the country.
The diocese called on governments at all levels and politicians to prioritise programmes and policies that aim to uplift the living standards of the people in order to ensure greater prosperity.
The church made its position known in resolutions of the 3rd Session of the 7th Synod of the Diocese of Okrika, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) held at St James Anglican Church, Ogoloma, Okrika Archdeaconry in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State presided over by the Bishop, Rt. Reverend Enoch Atuboyedia.
The Synod, which is the highest decision making organ of the Diocese, noted the challenges faced by the people and called for action towards making life bearable for the people.
With the the 2024 Theme, “I See Grace,” the Synod to stop living as if they were planting landmines for tomorrow.
The communique signed by the Diacesian Communicator, Same Ibom Semenitari, said: “Government should consider life as a prime gift from God and thus with all earnestness prioritize the security of lives. The creation of State Police will greatly help the overburdened Nigerian Police Force in achieving its security goals.
“Government should do the needful to alleviate the ‘skyrocketing suffering’ of the masses. Ensure that formulated policies transcend remotely and in the long-term to the prosperity of the masses that are the primary protectors and custodians of the nation.
“Government should give the needed attention to education (personal & infrastructure), healthcare (personal & infrastructure), basic social amenities and basic infrastructure to make life more comforting and comfortable.”
While stating with concern the current unhealthy political rivalry in Rivers State, the Synod urged all parties to sheathe their swords and work together for the benefit of the people.
The Synod commended the pro-people initiatives of Governor Siminalayi’s administration, noting especially the positive comments from the civil servants and labour unions.
The Synod urged the governor to diligently pursue more projects that delivered basic social services to enable the state meet the SDGs.
The communique said: “Synod commends the Rivers State Government for the launching of the N4 billion matching loan scheme for nano, small and medium-scale businesses and urges residents of the State to take advantage of this economic empowerment initiative.
“Synod encourages Rivers people to be confident that we will overcome the present economic, political and social challenges as the Grace of God is sufficient to guarantee peace, unity and development in the State.
“Synod notes the declining value system and moral decadence and urges parents and the church to be vigilant and provide direction and loving correction.”
A former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has expressed fears that if not properly implemented, the proposed state police could aggravate political hooliganism in many states.
Shekarau spoke on Kano-based Arewa Radio, where he expressed concern about the spate of lingering political violence across many states in the country.
“Most atrocities are sponsored and promoted by politicians,” he said.
Shekarau’s concerns are coming following the presidency and all 36 state governors and stakeholders’ unanimous agreement on the creation of state police due to the incessant security challenges across the country.
Even though he expressed his support for the creation of state police, Shekarau advised the federal government not to allow the proposed state police to carry firearms.
According to him, the decentralised police should be tailored around the model of the Kano State Hisbah Board, which was used to address cases of social vices during his tenure as a governor of the state.
On the federal government’s student loan policy, the former Minister of Education said the conditions of the policy were too harsh for an average Nigerian student.
According to him, the students are expected to provide sureties with a certain unrealistic amount of deposits in their bank account, stating that this amongst others will make it difficult for an overriding majority of Nigerian students to access the loan.
He appealed to the Federal Government to review and expunge some of the harsh conditions to enable more Nigerian students access the loan.
At a meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu in February to discuss the rising insecurity in the country, the governors agreed that there was need to give legal backing to state police. The House of Representatives has now passed the bill on state police for second reading. TONY AKOWE examines the opinion of stakeholders at a national dialogue.
It was a gathering of many heavy weight and decision makers in the country. The discussion was on the desirability or otherwise of having a state police. It was part of measures at gathering public opinion on the constitutional alteration bill on state police.
State police has been one of the biggest topic of discussion among agitators of restructuring of the country. But the heightened insecurity in the country has brought the issue back to the front burner of national discourse. In the 9th Assembly, the bill to alter the constitution to allow for the creation of state police never saw the light of day despite several arguments advanced by its proponents.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had voiced his opposition to the issue and so, the lawmakers followed suit. But the issue has gained national attention once again probably because of the interest showed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the governors.
But Nigeria’s number one Police Officer, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun thinks the country is not yet ripe for the idea of state police. He told a gathering of lawmakers and high-ranking Nigerians that even though the state police will compliment the activities of the Nigerian Police, the aftermath of such establishment will be incomprehensible. He said “there has been clamour for the establishment of state-controlled police to complement the activities of the Nigeria police force and several arguments have been made in support. Some argue that the Nigeria police force is not living up to expectations in providing the necessary security for the citizenry, while others are of the view that police presence is not felt in many parts of the country especially the areas requiring security such as schools, communities.
Some contend that even the cities, police presence is mostly felt in areas by the rich. Others still argue that police performance is generally minimal hence there is insecurity in the country. This and many other reasons have propelled proponents of state police.
Although the IGP has retracked his earlier position, saying it was his own personal opinion, he believed that rather than talking about establishing a state police, the problem that need to be addressed are the challenges militating against effective policing in Nigeria. The challenges, according to him include inadequate manpower, inadequate operational equipment such as vehicles, arms and ammunition, communication equipment, drones, aerial surveillance cameras, security surveillance helicopters, armoured vehicles and so on.
It also include inadequate training of personnel, training and retraining is vital to achieve optimal performance which has not been possible over the years due to poor funding, inadequate office and barrack accommodation, just police stations. In his words, barracks that were built since the colonial period have not undergone any form of renovation despite increase in the strength of the force. This, he said has impacted negatively on performance of the personnel.
He said as a result of the observation, “it is the submission of the leadership of the Nigerian police force that Nigeria police force that the country is yet to mature and be ready for the establishment of state controlled police”. Giving reasons, he said “there is the potential for abuse of power by the state political leadership, state governors could use the police forces under their control for political or personal gain and compromise human rights and security.
There would also be conflict of jurisdiction. Rather than establish state controlled police, he said “the police leadership rather is recommending that instead of creating state police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety to form a department under the Nigerian police, the yearly recruitment of police personnel into the force should be increased by at least 30, 000 every year to meet the United Nations minimum standard of policing of 450 citizens to one policeman”.
But former President Goodluck Jonathan thinks otherwise. He believes that state police is no longer negotiable. The former President argued that several states have experimented with state police successfully in the state, saying the issue to be discussed right now is not whether the country is ripe for state police, but how it should operate, describing it as a done deal, saying there was jo way the state can have adequate security without state police. Jonathan said “the issue today is very critical. One thing is that we don’t need to debate on whether we should have state police or not. I think that matter has been concluded. The issue is the operations of the police. I was a deputy governor and governor. I operated at the state level for eight years. I was also Vice President and President for another eight years.
I know that in Bayelsa and other states that attempted to have some element of security, the issue of state Police worked very well. when we took over, Bayelsa state was almost ungovernable. When elections were to be conducted in December 1998, the security situation was so bad that our elections were pushed to January 1999. When we took over, the state was in crisis. Niger Delta agitation was there. The criminal elements were also operating in the creeks and were causing issues for market women and others until Alamieyesigha then the governor, set up the Bayelsa volunteers that worked with the police.
So, there is no way we can manage internal security if states would not have their police”.
He argued that the issue to be discussed should be how the state police would function vis-a-viz the national security architecture? When I set up the 2014 national dialogue, we had lots of challenges in the country. People were agitating in so many areas. But one thing that the almost 500 delegates agreed upon without much ado was the issue of state police. When that issue came up, every one supported the issue of state police. We cannot move away from state police. So, we should not go to waste our time debating whether we should have state police or not because we operated it be before. The military scrapped it because of the abuse and that is the area we should concentrate on. The question should be, how do we manage the state police that it would not be abused by state political actors? If state political actors are abusing the state police and using the state police to harass and make life miserable for people who do not belong to their political parties, would the commander in chief sit down and watch or would he order the military to go and overrun the state police, of course that would bring crisis. 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. Commercial kidnapping started around 2006, I don’t want to into that history, when I was governor. But it started in the Niger Delta. Now it is all over the country. The only thing that can help us if we cannot stop it completely at least we reduce it to the barest minimum is for states to have their police”.
Former Head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar believe that giving a role to traditional rulers will help address the security challenges in the country. According to him, as the nation work on the possibility of having a state police system, efforts should also be made to give the traditional rulers a constitutional role because of their important role in addressing security challenges. He admitted that “Nigeria has been having a rough ride for the last ten years or so in insecurity. In order to make peace and security in any nation, the governance must be transparent, must honesty, accountability and all that it takes to make citizens comfortable in order to go on their daily business to earn their legitimate earnings”.
The former Nigerian military leader said the citizens also have a role to play. He said “the citizens of any country have got citizens responsibility and that responsibility is to ensure the maintenance of peace and order and this can be done by upholding the Constitution, laws and orders, regulations. Not only that, citizens should not vandalize any property or establishment provided by the various governments. It is our responsibility to be each other’s keepers and ensure that, there is equity and the maintenance of issues provide by the various governments. Indeed, our royal fathers have a lot of responsibilities in ensuring the maintenance of peace and order.
At the public forum held by the National Assembly to discuss the burning issue of state police on 22nd April, 2024 in which eminent citizens including two former heads of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) and former President Goodluck Jonathan, endorsed the establishment of state police as an idea whose time has come, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun was perhaps the singularly most significant naysayer and objector. Represented by AIG Ben Okolo, IGP Egbetokun’s submission was an uncritical regurgitation of the same antediluvian cynicisms by all past IGs and others who find it difficult to think constructively outside the box on how to move the country forward into the modern era. His position was that Nigeria is not yet ripe or mature to have state-controlled police! He would rather Nigeria continued in the same old unworkable and unprofitable ways.
My take, and upfront, is this: the National Assembly, state governors and state houses of assembly should simply ignore Egbetokun’s objections and move forward to recommend establishment of state police by states that are willing and ready. Well, AIG Okolo has since tried to walk back the objection to state police by stating that the position was simply his personal opinion and not that of the IGP or the Nigerian Police Force! This is disingenuous if not absurd, for this is his actual statement: “It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that Nigeria is not yet mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police.” What was his reason? “State governors could use the police forces under their control for political or personal gain and undermine human rights and security. There would also be a conflict of jurisdiction.” (The Nation, Tuesday, April 23, 2024).
Correct me if I’m wrong, but representing the IGP at such an important national discourse on policing, AIG Okolo’s statement that it was “the submission of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)” could not possibly be his personal opinion! This must be only a feeble attempt at damage control or face-saving for the IGP, but it is not convincing. It is perhaps because the police leadership suddenly realized that it is unhelpful to openly object to a matter the “Oga at the Top”, i.e., the President and Commander-in-Chief of the .armed forces, appears favourably disposed to. Hence, the need to walk back that objection. But the cat already left the bag.
I have nothing personal against the IGP who has over the decades proven his mettle as a security professional and a consummate police officer and now our chief of police. My problem is with his ideas —- they are the same tired and threadbare ideas that have not helped the cause of federalism. First, the IGP may be a good police man but he certainly has no monopoly of ideas and expertise about police and policing. There are others who specialize in police and security studies across the globe as a lifetime intellectual pursuit and whose knowledge and expertise we can gain from. Secondly, IGP Egbetokun is not saying anything new, for all former IGPs before him subscribed to and have voiced the same antiquated objections. Posers: when is a nation ripe for something, and what are the indices or yardsticks to measure and determine that ripeness or otherwise? Thirdly, it is clear from his submission that he hardly believes in federalism and the decentralization that is integral to it. Instead, he scandalously advocated that both the NSCDC and FRSC be merged with the Nigeria Police. Why should this be so, since the police and these other agencies have different functional specifications? Fourthly, decision concerning the types, forms and layers of policing is purely political, not a technical one. The police high command as specialists in the art and practice of policing has its own opinion, but this should be passed to the government as advice and recommendations, not for open demonization of elected state governors.
For how long will our top police officials continue to live in the past, ventilate outdated, unproductive and antediluvian sentiments on policing? This is the same archaic and simplistic logic ventilated by all former IGPs after they had been dredged up from retirement, rescued from obscurity and corralled into Forum of Retired Inspectors-General of Police in 2012 by then IGP M.D. Abubakar. The Forum in its public statement opposing state police and signed by former IGPs including M. D. Yusuf, Sunday Adewusi, Gambo Jimeta, Aliyu Atta, Ibrahim Coomasie, Musiliu Smith, Sunday Ehindero and Mike Okiro asserted rather magisterially that “… a state police would only be a tool in the hands of political leaders at the state level.” The annoying thing here is that IGP Egbetokun merely regurgitated exactly the same objections of the former IGPs without attempts made to improve on or refine them. While I cannot defend the state governors against any accusations that they might misuse and abuse state police, I think it is unfortunate that unelected appointees of the executive branch will so freely and recklessly assail the integrity of democratically elected state leaders, as these former IGPs and the current one have done.
I responded to the ex-IGPs position in my piece, “State Police: Let’s Have a Town Hall Meeting” (Nigerian Tribune, Tuesday, 28 August, 2012) in which I submitted that whilst these fears are neither totally unfounded nor should be lightly dismissed, they however “are not sufficient to vitiate consideration of the proposal for state police as we cannot allow fears about the past continue to dominate our thinking about innovating, and moving forward, for to do so amounts to unpardonable mental laziness. Enough of living in the past! I refuse to believe that Nigerians are incapable of using their prodigious intellect to change the police system and make it work effectively for them.” And I have also made known what I consider positive and innovative ways to have a state police system that would not be readily subject to abuse and misuse by state governors in my recent article titled “My Suggestions on State Police,” (The Nation, March 4, 2024).
Enough of scaremongering and fear-mongering already. It is insanity for us to continue the old ways and expect that things would change for the better, or that Nigeria would reach that mythical maturity at some stage. State police is an idea whose time has come, and no one should be allowed to hold back the hands of the clock. And it is refreshing also that the two former Nigerian heads of state who attended the Forum spoke powerfully in support of the idea. We must never be afraid to innovate and try new things. The nation is blessed with abundance of intellect to guide us in these endeavours. Let’s leverage the current momentum to innovate and do something new. Constant experimentation is the basis of innovation, and any society that builds its present and envisages its future on the past missteps alone will never make progress. China provides a classic example: it is today an economic, technological and military powerhouse because of the developmental vision and focus of its leadership, their commitment to relentless innovations and the can do spirit of its people.
• Professor Fawole, who retired from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, writes from Ikire, Osun State.
Director-General of Amalgamated APC support groups, Kailani Muhammad, has condemned the agitations by Nigerian governors to have state police, saying that the country is not yet ripe for it.
Muhammad, who is also the national chairman of Tinubu Support Network (TSN) during a press conference in Kaduna, at the weekend said, allowing state governors, some of whom act like demi-gods to have control over a police force, would be suicidal to Nigeria’s democracy.
He said: “It is clear to all Nigerians that State Governors’ mindset are yet to adjust to the true principles of democracy, where it is the Government of the People, by the people and for the People.
“It is instructive to note that, most of our State Governors believe they are demi- gods, and truly act as such. Once they take the Oath of Office, they abandon all tenets and principles of democracy, that essentially brought them to office.
“The problem is complex. Therefore, to avail the Nigerian state governor, the powers to control an entire State Police under his sole authority, could be suicidal to Nigerian democracy.
“Even now when the Police structure is not under their supervision, some state governors still attempt to resort to the Police Commands in their states to coerce the electorate during elections to toe their political paths during voting.
“Presently, some state governors are finding it difficult to pay staff salaries, so where will they get the money to pay State Police when they solely rely on federal government allocation without recourse to the diverse natural resources in their states to improve their Internally Generate Revenue (IGR)?
“There is a constructive argument that state governors might use State Police to intimidate, blackmail and victimize Nigerians either for political, ethnic, tribal or social gains for themselves, to the detriment of the state.”
Muhammad said that Nigeria cannot afford to copyright the United States of America, Great Britain, Germany or any other country on the issue of state Police, because Nigeria is not ready for it now.
On the fuel scarcity, Muhammad said it was caused by petroleum products marketers, who have devised a cunning strategy to defraud and inflict hardship on the citizenry, by hoarding petroleum products, and damned the consequences on the citizenry.
“The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), has come out categorically and assured Nigerians that there is enough petroleum products to service Nigeria for a long time to come.
“So, those behind this manufactured fuel scarcity should be fished out and sanctioned accordingly, to serve as a deterrent to others. This country belongs to all of us. We must collectively work hard to salvage it together.”
Last Monday’s dialogue on state police organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja has turned out to be quite revelatory. Whereas most Nigerians seem in favour of decentralising policing, the police as an institution appear unenthusiastic. It is understandable. The enormous power they wield at the moment would most likely be lost or considerably attenuated if policing is devolved to the states. Many of those who attended the dialogue were, however, stupefied that Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun chose that Monday dialogue forum to publicise his reservations. Represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police Ben Okolo, the IGP argued that the problem of the police was actually poor funding, which he enjoined the National Assembly to address. As proof that he misread the mood of the conference as well as downplayed public frustrations on the subject, the IGP inexplicably suggested more accretion of powers to the police by asking for the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Commission (NSCDC) to be merged as a department of the Nigeria Police Force. He was booed.
The bill on state police, sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker, had passed second reading as far back as two months ago. Two former Nigerian head of state/president were at the dialogue and argued convincingly in favour of decentralisation. So did many traditional rulers and former IGPs. It is not clear who advised the IGP or what gave him the confidence that the public, already fed up with the police, might be amenable to a different perspective on the subject. But last Monday, Mr OKolo spoke for the police and suggested that “It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force that Nigeria is yet to mature and be ready for the establishment of state-controlled police.” But following a backlash, Mr Okolo, now turned into a scapegoat, tried to walk back his assertions at the dialogue. He said that he actually spoke for himself. His quoted statement suggests otherwise. It is unlikely that knowing which way the presidency was leaning Mr Okolo would go ahead to make statements not approved by the Nigeria Police leadership or Mr Egbetokun himself.
The eventual decentralisation of the police may take a little longer than hoped, but despite opposition from some quarters, the constitutional amendment will be finalised and the police decentralised. Many of the speakers at the dialogue warned against, or feared, the abuse of police powers at the state level, but they did not feel strongly enough about any such potential abuse to abandon their support for the idea. Indeed, Sunday Ehindero, a former IGP himself, believed that withholding support for police decentrailsation may be a result of gross misreading of the bill before the National Assembly. He disclosed that he was initially opposed to the idea of decentralisation of the police until he read the bill, which according to him was not even as far-reaching as he thought. Did Mr Egbetokun and Mr OKolo read the bill at all? It is doubtful.
For instance, the bill provides for the co-existence of a federal police with state police and, curiously, that no state police commissioner could be appointed from among the serving members of the state police by a governor without the approval of the Federal Police Service Commission. Yet, each state, according to the bill, has a State Police Service Commission before which a police commissioner could bring his disagreements with the governor. In addition the bill also provides that a police commissioner could not be removed without the recommendation of the Federal Police Service Commission, rather than the recommendation of the State Police Service Commission. As a matter of fact, the idea of state police has been considerably weakened by some of these contradictory and attenuating provisions, which hopefully would be reworked before the bill is passed. Had Mr Egbetokun studied the bill and made informed and highly impactful suggestions to strengthen it and perhaps even hedge it, he would have been applauded. Instead, he was left with egg on his face at the dialogue, while his representative had the undignified job of claiming responsibility for a poorly thought-out opposition to an idea whose time has evidently come.
Messrs Egbetokun and Okolo have a poor comprehension of democracy, particularly the concept of federalism. Yet, both officers ought not to be seen as lionising centralisation when every democracy is advocating devolution. Decades of stultifying centralisation have weakened the country, distorted federalism, endangered democracy, and made the Police Force seemed powerless, inefficient and even incompetent. Instead of giving states more responsibilities for policing, the nation has been unwittingly ceding more policing powers to the military in nearly all the states without a corresponding reduction in insecurity. In effect, the country has become less policed and more insecure.
Mr Okolo may have publicly walked back the Police Force views on police decentralisation, but he has not been convincing. Mr Egbetokun knows the danger of openly opposing the administration, especially on a subject that has received wide support. He should go ahead and study the bill once more, assuming he had done it before, and see whether he cannot appreciate the matter beyond himself and his tenure. Then he must learn to speak convincingly about the future of policing in a federation, for the status quo is obviously unworkable.
Women Affairs minister and controversy
It is not clear where Women Affairs and Social Development minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, got her power to shut down the Lead British International School in Abuja over the bullying case involving some female students. Immediately the matter was posted on social media, the minister dived into the controversy and shut the school for three days until the matter should be investigated and possibly resolved. Shutting down any school in Abuja is supposed to be that of the Education ministry or the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). But Mrs Kennedy-Ohanenye is no stranger to controversy and impulsive action and statements.
Last September, she redefined sexual harassment in the University of Calabar case involving Cyril Ndifon, a Law professor and former dean, who is being tried for alleged sexual harassment of students. She was forced by a coalition of 500 women’s rights group to apologise. Last October, she also threatened to sue the United Nations for not properly accounting for the monies sourced from donors for Nigeria. Of course she had no locus. Then in February 2024, she admonished women to shut up when arguing with their husbands if the case was not to degenerate into violence. The ministry could defend the wife, but could not replace a lost eye, she said sarcastically.
Mrs Kennedy-Ohanenye is clearly instinctive and impetuous. She will keep leaping from one controversy to another if no one restrains her. But in the absence of the hilarious Dame Patience Jonathan, it is probably a great idea to have this Women Affairs minister in the cabinet to give the country comic relief and relive stressed ministers bent over by the tedium of their tasks. Hopefully, the president can put her on a gentle leash lest she traipse over her boundaries.
The proposal to establish State Police in Nigeria has sparked a contentious debate due to the concerns surrounding the persisting abuse of power by state governors. While the concept of State Police aims at enhancing security and law enforcement at the state level may seem plausible, however, the existing governance challenges and abuse of authority raise significant apprehensions about the potential consequences of entrusting state governors with coercive powers through State Police forces. Besides, in all the arguments for the establishment of State Police, there is not a single point where it is shown how the absence of State Police is responsible for breeding insecurity and how its establishment would solve the problem. It is therefore important to rethink the idea of establishing State Police in Nigeria in the bid to address the current security situation.
One of the primary arguments against the establishment of State Police in Nigeria pertains to the chronic abuse of power by state governors. The mismanagement of state resources, widespread corruption, and the manipulation of the state electoral commission in our Local Government elections for political gains are prevalent issues that have eroded trust in our state governance system. The consistent pattern of election rigging and the imposition of one-party rule at the local government level underscore the extent of authoritarian tendencies exhibited by all state governors in the country.
Granting state governors control over State Police forces in the current political climate, therefore, poses a grave risk to democracy and the electoral process in Nigeria. The history of state governors stifling democratic elections at the grassroots level and silencing opposition voices represent a clear warning sign of the potential repercussions of consolidating coercive powers in the hands of a few political elites. Allowing state governors to wield State Police authority could lead to the further erosion of democratic principles, free and fair elections, and the stifling of political dissent.
The decentralization of policing authority under state governors raises fundamental concerns about the separation of powers, checks and balances, and the independence of the judiciary. By empowering state governors with State Police forces, there is a real danger of executive overreach, abuse of power, and the subversion of constitutional safeguards. The concentration of coercive power in the hands of political actors who have a history of undermining democratic institutions could have far-reaching implications for the rule of law and accountability in Nigeria.
Also, very importantly, the discourse on the establishment of State Police in Nigeria has proponents advocating for enhanced security and decentralization of law enforcement. However, a critical analysis reveals a conspicuous absence of concrete evidence linking the absence of State Police to the country’s security challenges. My argument hence aims to deconstruct the prevailing narrative and advocate against the establishment of State Police based on the lack of substantive justification for its necessity in addressing insecurity in Nigeria.
The key point to note therefore is the complete absence of any causal link between the prevailing security challenges and State Police. This is a central flaw in the argument for establishing State Police in Nigeria. Peruse all the arguments of the proponents and a point of note is the failure to establish a clear causal relationship between the absence of State Police and the country’s security threats. Proponents often assert that State Police would enhance security and improve law enforcement, yet little empirical evidence or data is presented to demonstrate how the current centralized policing structure is the root cause of insecurity. Without a compelling case linking the absence of State Police to the proliferation of insurgency, banditry, crime and violence, the urgency for its establishment is obviously called into question.
Also, another critical lacuna in the discourse surrounding the establishment of State Police is the reliance on unsubstantiated assumptions about its efficacy in addressing security challenges. Advocates frequently argue that State Police would be more responsive to local needs, improve intelligence gathering, and enhance community policing efforts. However, these assertions are often speculative and lack empirical validation. The mere act of decentralizing law enforcement does not inherently guarantee improved security outcomes unless accompanied by comprehensive reforms, capacity building, and accountability mechanisms.
Furthermore, the exclusive focus on the establishment of State Police as a panacea for Nigeria’s security woes overlooks the systemic challenges and structural impediments that undermine effective policing. Issues such as corruption, lack of training, inadequate resources, politicization of law enforcement agencies and weak coordination between security forces represent significant barriers to achieving sustainable security outcomes. Merely creating State Police without addressing these underlying issues is akin to applying a superficial solution to a complex and multifaceted problem.
Hence, rather than rushing to establish State Police under the guise of addressing insecurity, it is essential to explore alternative approaches that can yield more sustainable and effective results. Strengthening and expanding existing federal law enforcement agencies, investing in training and capacity building, enhancing intelligence sharing mechanisms, promoting community engagement and improving good governance and rule of law at all governmental levels are critical components of a comprehensive security strategy. These measures address the root causes of insecurity and foster a holistic approach to law enforcement that transcends mere structural reorganization.
My argument against the establishment of State Police in Nigeria, therefore, hinges on the critical examination of the security fallacy perpetuated in the discourse surrounding its necessity. The absence of a clear causal link between security challenges and the need for State Police, coupled with unsubstantiated assumptions of its efficacy, underscores the imperative for a more nuanced and evidence-based approach to security reform. By reframing the debate to focus on addressing structural impediments, enhancing existing law enforcement capabilities, and adopting comprehensive security strategies, Nigeria can adopt a more pragmatic and effective approach to enhancing security and promoting the rule of law.
In light of the aforementioned, therefore, it is imperative for all stakeholders, including President Bola Tinubu and advocates of democracy, to oppose the establishment of State Police under the current governance conditions in Nigeria. The potential consequences of granting state governors unchecked coercive powers are dire and could undermine the foundations of democracy, pluralism, and political participation. Instead of reinforcing authoritarian tendencies, efforts should be focused on strengthening existing institutions, promoting transparency and upholding the rule of law to safeguard democracy in Nigeria.
Undoubtedly , the establishment of State Police in Nigeria under the prevailing governance circumstances characterized by abuse of power and authoritarian governance poses significant threats to democracy, opposition, and the rule of law. The historical misuse of constitutional powers by state governors and the erosion of democratic principles at the local government level serve as cautionary tales against further decentralizing coercive authority. It is essential to prioritize institutional reforms, accountability mechanisms, and respect for democratic norms rather than risking the consolidation of power in the hands of a few political elites through State Police forces. Protecting democracy in Nigeria requires vigilance, advocacy for good governance and a steadfast commitment to upholding constitutional principles that safeguard the rights and liberties of all citizens.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, Rep. Abubakar Yalleman says state police will address security challenges in the country at all levels.
Yalleman said this when he spoke with newsmen on the sidelines of the Critical National Dialogue on the establishment of State Police organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said the issue of state police had been a burning issue in the last two decades, adding that although it had never been on the front burner for discuss until recently.
“Having a National Dialogue on the issue of Security and State Police initiated by the House of Representatives is evident that our once nascent democracy is becoming more sophisticated, open, transparent and mature.
“We have heard deep perspectives from some of our best minds in the country and abroad, these are people that relate with the citizens at various levels and have cordial relationships with them.
“As a Legislature and for all Legislators, we have taken notes, we have received feedback, and we have learnt, we assure everyone that we will incorporate their views on every constitutional amendment,” he said.
Yalleman said the security challenges in the country have fundamentally changed, adding that the change made debate for state police to now have a national outlook.
He said that the feedback from the lawmakers equally reinforced the need for the establishment of state police.
‘’When the national consensus is fully formed, I do believe that we will have the right environment to proceed to doing the needful,’’ he said.
He said that state police had its inherent risks and challenges, including tendency for abuse and misuse by the chief executives at sub-national levels.
He added that the role of the legislature at national and states levels was to build checks and balances, safeguards and independence for the state police.
“We must achieve balance, I mean the right type of balance, so that the merits outplay the demerits as well as ensuring law and order at the end,” he said.
Support for state police gained further momentum yesterday with two former Nigerian leaders – Dr Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar — throwing their weight behind it.
They suggested that issues such as its integration into the national security architecture and operationalisation must be adequately addressed.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who also supported the proposed policing model, gave reasons why it should start now.
However, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun differed with them. He said Nigeria was not ripe for state police.
Jonathan, Abubakar, Akpabio, Abbas and Egbetokun spoke at a one-day dialogue on state policing in Abuja yesterday.
President Bola Tinubu, who was the special guest of honour at the event with the theme: “Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria,” renewed his commitment to reforming the police.
It was organised by the House of Representatives ahead of the passage of the State Police Bill before it.
The Executive Bill was rejected by the Ninth National Assembly on the ground that governors could misuse state police if empowered to have control over its personnel.
However, the rising spate of insecurity made many of those opposed to the idea change their position and support it.
For instance, many states in the North are now fully in support of state police.
Last month, 16 states indicated their support of state police at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.
The remaining states are expected to make their position known at this month’s NEC session.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at yesterday’s event, said state policing was not just a policy proposal but a potential milestone in the evolution of the nation’s law enforcement framework.
The framework, according to him, will give birth to a law enforcement agency that would address the demands of all communities across the country.
The President said: “We view the outcomes of today’s deliberations as crucial inputs that will guide the government’s actions towards reforming the institution of the police and achieving a safer and more secure Nigeria.
“In our deliberations, let us consider the implications of state policing from multiple perspectives.
“We must evaluate its potential to improve response times to emergencies, adapt to specific local challenges, and increase accountability.
“At the same time, we must address concerns related to the standardisation of training, oversight, and the safeguarding of civil liberties.”
He expressed delight that the 10th House of Representatives has keyed into the idea of state policing, noting that “the involvement of the Legislature in reform proposals ensures continuity and synergy.’’
No adequate security without state police, says Jonathan
Former President Jonathan said state police should no longer be seen as an idea but a done deal.
Stating that there was no way any state could have adequate security without state police, he wondered why some people were wary of it even after some states had successfully experimented with it.
Jonathan said what should be of concern at the moment is the operational model the system would take.
He said: “The issue today is very critical. One thing is that we don’t need to debate whether we should have state police or not. I think that matter has been concluded. The issue is the operations of the police.
“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.
“Commercial kidnapping started around 2006 – I don’t want to go into that history – when I was governor. But it started in the Niger Delta. Now it is all over the country. The only thing that can help us is for states to have their police.
“Insecurity is a national challenge and if you don’t help crush the problem of other states, those criminal elements will one day come to your state.
“I was a governor. I operated at the state level for eight years, as deputy governor and governor and getting to the centre, Vice President and President for another eight years.
“I know that in Bayelsa and other states that attempted to have some element of security, state Police worked very well.
“In Bayelsa, when we took over, the state was almost ungovernable. Gen. Abubakar would remember that when elections were to be conducted in December 1998, the security situation was so bad that our elections were pushed to January 1999.
“When we took over, the state was in crisis. Niger Delta agitation was there. The criminal elements were also operating in the creeks and were causing issues for market women and others until (Diepreye) Alamieseigha who was then the governor, set up the Bayelsa Volunteers Force that worked with the police.
“We built stations around parts of the creeks and the boys volunteered to work with the police and that brought the situation down.
“So, there is no way we can manage internal security if states would not have their police.
“But how would the state police function vis-a-vis the national security architecture?
“When I set up the 2014 national dialogue, we had lots of challenges in the country. People were agitating in so many areas.
“But one thing that the almost 500 delegates agreed upon without much ado was the issue of state police.
“When that issue came up, everyone supported the issue of state police. So we cannot move away from state police.
“State police was accepted; national border force was accepted and coast guard was also accepted.
“So, the National Assembly, while debating or conducting public hearings on state police, these issues of national borders force must be considered.
“Yes the immigration and customs carry out border controls, but they cannot play the role of national borders force. When we have a national border force, we will be able to contain these enemies.
“Also the customs and Immigration personnel carry weapons but they may not have been sufficiently trained to confront these criminals.
“I was in the customs for two years before I entered the university and the training given to us was not enough to confront the criminals. So, these issues must be integrated with the issue of state police.
“We are not going to waste our time debating whether we should have state police or not because we operated it before.
“The military scrapped it because of the abuse and that is the area we should concentrate on.
“How do we manage the state police so that it would not be abused by state political actors?
“If state political actors are abusing the state police and using the state police to harass and make life miserable for people who do not belong to their political parties, would the commander-in-chief sit down and watch or would he order the military to go and overrun the state police? Of course that would bring crisis.’’
Jonathan said the key areas that have to be debated is how to run the state police vis-a-vis the national security architecture of the country.
Gen. Abdulsalami advocates roles for monarchs
Former Head of state, Gen. Abubakar said as the possibility for state police brightens, efforts should also be geared towards giving traditional rulers constitutional roles in addressing security challenges.
He added: “Nigeria has been having a rough ride for the last 10 years or so because of insecurity. I want to thank President Jonathan for what he has said. Why I have not brought up any paper is because he has taken the wind out of my sail.
“All I will add is that, to have peace and security in any nation, the government must be transparent, honest and accountable.
“Our royal fathers have a lot of responsibilities in ensuring the maintenance of peace and order. As a young child growing up in a rural community, we used to see the role of these royal fathers.
‘’When a stranger enters a village, within hours, the village head knows about that stranger through their means of communication.
“It is necessary for politicians to as much as possible avoid exerting influence on how the police are going to operate if at all we agree to have the state police.
“President Jonathan has concluded that it’s the operational standards that we must discuss. We must give a thought to its operationalisation.’’
Nigeria not mature for state police, says Egbetokun
But IGP Egbetokun, who was represented at the event by AIG Ben Okolo, said the country was not mature for state police.
He added that apart from leading to multiple command structures, state police could become a political tool in the hands of governors.
The Police boss also said that state policing would exacerbate ethnic tension and lead to divided loyalty in the states.
He said: “It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that Nigeria is not yet mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police.
“State governors could use the police forces under their control for political or personal gain and undermine human rights and security.
“There would also be a conflict of jurisdiction.’’
He also argued that states lacked the funds needed for the type of police system the country requires.
Rather than establish state police across the country, Egbetokun recommended merging the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Commission to form departments in the NPF.
He also said there is the need for a yearly recruitment of about 30,000 police personnel into the force annually to meet the United Nations (UN) requirement for modern policing.
It’s time for action, says Ooni of Ife
Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, said now was the time for leaders “to put into action the talks about addressing our security challenge.’’
Ooni Ogunwusi, who spoke for the traditional institution, said monarchs deserved to play a role in tackling insecurity.
He said: “We have not seen anybody that has a contrary opinion to this. I commend you (House of Representatives). But please swing into action. It is about time. Do something that would be impactful to people. Enough of talking.
“Everybody is heading towards the same direction. So, besides talking the talk, let’s walk the talk.
“When are we going to implement state police? Give us that commitment and let us have peace in Nigeria.’’
Kalu: N5 billion paid in ransoms to kidnappers
House of Representative Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Ben Kalu, said the nation’s current security challenges would be better tackled through a multi-layer security arrangement.
He also stated that since 2016, more than N5 billion had been paid in ransoms to kidnappers, an amount that highlights the scary growth of kidnapping as a business enterprise.
“These statistics underscore the urgent need for a multi-layered policing approach that prioritises local security and enables a more responsive policing environment in Nigeria,” the deputy speaker said.
The event was attended by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar; Chairman of the Police Service Commission Solomon Arase; Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa, represented by Major General Adekunle Ariyibi and German Ambassador to Nigeria Annette Gunter.
Others include ministers Atiku Bagudu (Budget and National Development), Ibrahim Gaidam (Police Affairs), Uba Maigari (Steel Development, State) and Sabi Abdullah (Agriculture, State) as well as Metropolitan Bishop Emeritus of Abuja John Cardinal Onaiyekan.
The House of Representatives will today hold a national dialogue on State Policing.
Vice President Kashmir Shettima is expected to lead two former Nigerian leaders and top security chiefs to the one-day event, which will hold at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former President Goodluck Jonathan will deliver special remarks at the event.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa; Police Affairs Minister Ibrahim Geidam, and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, are also expected at the dialogue.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila; and Senate President Godswill Akpabio are also expected to speak at the event.
Others expected speakers are: Clement Nwankwo of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC); the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Richard Montgomery; the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annette Gunter; and the Country Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Elsie Attafuah.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the Special Adviser to Speaker on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, said Speaker Tajudeen Abbas will deliver the keynote address at the event.
He said the national dialogue is part of efforts by the House to collate public and expert opinions on the State Police Bill which has passed the second reading in the Green Chamber.
