Nigeria’s push to establish state police has reached a defining stage. However, as the country moves closer to one of its biggest security reforms in decades.
The debate has shifted beyond whether state police should exist. Instead, attention is now focused on how the new policing system will work, how it will be funded, and how both federal and state police forces will operate together without creating new security gaps.
This article is adapted from an opinion piece written by Lanre Olagunju, Editor of CheckClimate.Africa.
One of the strongest signs that the conversation was changing came shortly after Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu assumed office. Rather than waiting for constitutional amendments to be completed, he set up an eight-member committee led by Professor Olu Ogunsakin to develop a practical framework for state policing.
The move was widely seen as an unexpected but forward-looking step. Moreover, it reflected the Nigeria Police Force’s decision to contribute practical solutions instead of resisting the ongoing reform process.
The committee later submitted its recommendations to the National Assembly. Those recommendations have since become part of the wider constitutional review aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s policing structure.
The proposed constitutional amendment is expected to introduce a dual policing system. Under the arrangement, both the Federal Police and State Police would share responsibility for maintaining security across the country.
However, while many stakeholders have welcomed the proposal, experts believe several important questions still require clear answers before the reform becomes fully operational.
One major concern is funding.
The draft amendment places the responsibility for financing state police on individual state governments. Furthermore, it allows the Federal Government to provide grants through the National Police Council after legislative approval.
Yet the proposal does not clearly explain how those grants would be shared among states.
This raises concerns that wealthier states may build stronger police services faster than states facing greater security challenges but weaker financial resources.
If that happens, public safety could vary significantly across Nigeria. Another issue involves the relationship between federal and state authorities.
The amendment allows federal intervention during serious security emergencies or when invited by a state governor.
However, many observers believe the proposal should clearly define what qualifies as a “breakdown of law and order.”
Without a precise definition, disagreements may arise whenever the Federal Government considers stepping into state security matters.
In addition, experts argue that such uncertainty could create legal disputes that slow emergency responses. Implementation has also emerged as another important issue.
Although the Constitution would establish the legal foundation, many operational details would be handled later through a new Police Act.
These include funding formulas, recruitment standards, operational procedures, certification requirements and coordination between security agencies.
Consequently, there are concerns that constitutional approval could arrive before the supporting law is ready.
If that happens, states may receive constitutional approval to establish police services without having the legal tools needed to operate effectively.
Meanwhile, another challenge centres on cooperation.
Modern criminal groups rarely operate within one state.
Kidnappers, cybercriminals, armed gangs and organised crime networks often move across several states.
For that reason, experts believe strong cooperation between federal and state police services will be essential.
Shared intelligence, modern communication systems, joint operations and common databases have been identified as key elements that will determine the success of the reform.
Without effective coordination, criminals could exploit differences between agencies. Despite these concerns, many analysts believe the proposed reform remains one of Nigeria’s most important security changes since 1999.
Rather than weakening the initiative, they argue that raising these issues now will help build a stronger policing system in the future.
As the article explains, “The objective is not simply to establish another police institution. It is to build a policing architecture capable of responding to Nigeria’s evolving security landscape more effectively than the one it replaces.”
The piece also acknowledges the contributions of the National Assembly and the Nigeria Police Force under IGP Disu for encouraging constructive engagement throughout the reform process.
According to the article, “History may well remember this as the moment Nigeria embraced a more federal approach to policing.”
However, it also delivers a strong reminder that the long-term success of the State Police Reform will depend on getting every important detail right before implementation begins.
The article concludes with a warning that remains central to the ongoing debate.
“Before Nigeria redraws the map of policing, it would be wise to ensure that every important question has an equally convincing answer. Because when it comes to national security, clarity is not merely good governance, it is itself a form of protection.”
