Security experts across the country are divided over the prospect of the proposed state police to address the nation’s increasing security challenges.
This is against the backdrop of disclosure by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review of its intent to hold a legislative dialogue on Nigeria’s security architecture with a specific focus on the state police bill.
Last week, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, declared the readiness of the committee, which he chairs, to collate security stakeholders’ input on the proposed state police bill, noting that the panel had received a lot of interest in the bill from members of the country’s top security echelon.
The dialogue, slated for Monday, June 16, according to Kalu, was being put together by the committee, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Nigeria Police Force, among others.
“We need to have an engagement with the security agencies. The committee will ask the security stakeholders if the creation of state police will help address the situation in the country,” he said.
Speaking with newsmen, a retired police commissioner Lawrence Alobi, welcomed the idea of state policing, warning, however, that if it was not properly funded, Nigerians should not expect it to work miracles.
In an interview with newsmen, Mr. Alobi said, “State policing was experimented with during the General Ibrahim Babangida era.
“It was not completely state police then, but some officers of a certain rank were deployed to their states of origin. I was in my local government at the time. This was around 1986/1987.
“It is a good idea, but we need to make it clear that the federating states cannot fund state police.
“If the constitution amendment succeeds and we have state police, the Federal Government must establish a special fund, such as the National Security Fund, to support this initiative,” he said.
Alobi said the fund would be channelled to the internal security financing of the various states, in line with Section 14 of the constitution, which stipulates that the primary function of government is the security and welfare of its citizens.
The retired police boss also warned President Bola Tinubu not to trust the governors’ capacity to provide the necessary funding to drive the initiative.
“The President should provide the funding to make a difference. He should not rely on the governors because they can disappoint him.
“Lagos State has taken the lead in this instance because it has a Security Trust Fund, which is not being managed by politicians but by security agencies who need the resources to secure the people.
“This should be different from the Police Trust Fund, which is being managed by politicians and has not achieved the purpose for which it was created,” he added.
He warned of a possible clash of roles between the federal and state police personnel.
“If they can draw up a structure that will determine the function as distinct from the federal police in terms of operation and investigation so that there will be no clash, it will be a good thing.
“We just need the political will to do the right thing,” he stressed.
In a separate interview with newsmen, Major Mike Kebonkwu (retd) commended the steps being taken by the federal parliament to draft a legal framework for the establishment of state police in the country.
He, however, noted that unless those sponsoring the senseless killings and kidnappings in the country were fished out and prosecuted, state policing would do little to address the security challenges.
He said, “State policing has become a necessity. With it, the country will be able to address the myriad of security challenges because we will have officers and men who know their terrains and who understand the various local dialects.
“These criminals or insurgents are known by their people. So, it is a step in the right direction.
“We must make it clear, however, that enacting a law to create state police is not enough. It won’t address the issues overnight. There must be a political will to make it work.”
He asked the government to fish out the sponsors of the bandits, no matter how highly placed.
He also called on the National Assembly to ensure that governors were prevented from hijacking the state police, when created, in furtherance of their political interests.
A retired military officer, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity because he did not want to talk on security issues, said the proposed legislative summit was another gathering of security stakeholders “to make the usual noise.”
He said, “How many security summits have the President Tinubu administration convened since it came to office two years ago and what have we achieved?
“Whatever name they call it, I can assure you that they will be there to make the usual noise. Do not forget that these people are cashing out.
“The solution is not in the creation of state police. If you are overwhelmed, seek help.
“Unfortunately, this administration is not ready for that. This is our sad situation.”
The Kalu-led committee has, however, reiterated its commitment to deliver on the constitutional reforms timely in line with its December 2025 work plan.
The Punch
