Is Nigeria Ripe for State Police? Examining State Police and Nigeria’s Security Challenges

Nigeria is vast in terms of landmass and population, with a rich diversity of cultures and ethnic groups. However, the country has been facing serious security challenges, including ethno-religious conflicts, terrorism, banditry, farmer-herder clashes, and kidnapping for ransom. These growing security threats have intensified the call for the establishment of state police, with supporters arguing that it would give state governments greater control and flexibility in addressing security challenges within their jurisdictions rather than relying solely on the highly centralized Nigeria Police Force.

One of the major reasons behind the renewed demand for state police is the increasing cases of banditry, kidnapping, and mass abductions across different parts of the country. Many believe that a decentralized policing system would allow security agencies to respond faster to local threats because state authorities and local security structures would have a better understanding of the unique security situations within their communities.

However, the idea of state police has generated significant debate among scholars, security experts, and other stakeholders. While some strongly support the establishment of state police as a solution to Nigeria’s security problems, others have expressed serious concerns about the possible risks associated with it. The major concern among critics is the fear that state governors and political leaders could use state police as a tool to intimidate political opponents, suppress dissenting voices, or misuse security powers for personal and political interests.

These concerns are not without justification, considering Nigeria’s history of alleged abuse of power by some political actors. Cases involving the misuse of government institutions against opponents and critics have frequently appeared in the media and public discussions, creating fears that state-controlled police forces could become instruments of political control rather than genuine security institutions.

Therefore, while state police may provide an opportunity to improve security through a more localized approach, its success would largely depend on the establishment of strong legal safeguards, effective oversight mechanisms, professional standards, and measures to prevent political interference. The question is not only whether Nigeria needs state police but also whether the country has developed the necessary democratic institutions to ensure that such a system serves the interests of citizens rather than political interests.

1. Is Nigeria Ripe for State Police?

The answer is a capital NO; in my opinion, Nigeria is not ripe for state police. To understand this, we must first examine the current state of the Nigeria Police Force in terms of professionalism, respect for the rule of law, protection of human rights, proactive policing, availability of funds to carry out its operations, swift response to distress calls, and public perception of the police.

I had the privilege of studying a security-related course in a tertiary institution in Nigeria and also teaching security-related courses in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Among the courses I was taught, and later taught myself, were Police and Policing, Security Organizations, and other related courses designed to explain the structure, operations, and challenges of policing institutions. From 2008, when I started my tertiary education, until today, the problems and challenges of the Nigeria Police Force remain largely the same. The issues I learned about as a student are the same issues I teach as a lecturer today. Even during my postgraduate studies, I encountered discussions about the same challenges facing the police. I believe the lecturers who taught me were taught similar issues during their own academic journeys, and perhaps my students, if they become lecturers in the future, may also teach the same problems and challenges facing the police.

If the Nigeria Police Force, after decades of existence, continues to struggle with challenges that affect its effectiveness, professionalism, and ability to proactively prevent crime and protect lives and property, then what makes us believe that establishing state police under the supervision of similar political and institutional structures will automatically solve Nigeria’s security problems?

The truth is that a wheelbarrow cannot move faster than the person pushing it, and a tortoise cannot give birth to a kangaroo. Expecting an ineffective system to suddenly produce a completely different result without addressing the underlying problems is a classic example of unrealistic thinking.

Before Nigeria creates state police, there must first be serious reforms aimed at improving professionalism, accountability, funding, training, welfare, operational independence, and public trust in policing institutions. Otherwise, state police may simply reproduce the same challenges at the state level rather than provide the solution Nigerians are hoping for.

2. Can the Establishment of State Police Be Effective Against Prevailing Insecurity as Promised by Its Promoters?

To answer this question fairly, let us examine the existing ministries and agencies of state governments. Are they effective? Do they operate without interference from their employers? Are their salaries paid promptly? What about their welfare packages and other incentives?

In some states, the payment of salaries to workers is viewed as a privilege rather than a right, with some state governments owing their employees for several months. Now, imagine an armed state police officer working under such conditions without receiving a salary. Imagine the possibility of crimes being committed by individuals who hold significant influence within the state. Imagine a political opponent being detained by a state police force for whatever reason. Imagine if loopholes in the safeguards established to prevent abuse could be manipulated to silence political opponents or critics. Imagine if evidence could be planted, facts fabricated, or witnesses bribed to frame a dissenting voice.

Imagine what could happen if political thugs were allowed to operate freely in support of a sitting governor, knowing that the state police may not act independently against them. Above all, imagine giving a state governor the power to arrest, prosecute, influence adjudication processes, and punish offenders, especially when such offenders are political opponents, critics, dissenting voices, or individuals demanding accountability and transparency.

In an ideal setting, none of these concerns should arise because the police are expected to be fair, just, and professional, while the judiciary remains independent, impartial, and guided only by facts and the principles of justice. However, the Nigerian environment is not yet ideal. Even the federal police, which is expected to operate under established institutional safeguards, has faced allegations of influence, manipulation of facts, exploitation of loopholes, and actions that sometimes appear to favor certain individuals or interests.

Similarly, concerns have been raised about the judicial system, where some believe that external influences can affect decisions and compromise the fundamental principle of justice, which is impartiality. Therefore, before establishing state police, Nigeria must first address these underlying institutional weaknesses. Without strong safeguards, accountability mechanisms, and genuine independence, state police may risk becoming another avenue for political influence rather than a reliable solution to the country’s security challenges.

An Experience That Raises Concerns About State Police and Political Influence

I once visited a local government secretariat in one of the northern states in Nigeria to lodge a complaint against an arbitrary tax imposed on one of my companies. While waiting in the reception area to see the chairman, I suddenly heard an uproar outside. Concerned about my safety and curious about what was happening, I stepped outside to see what was going on.

To my surprise, I saw a group of young men within the secretariat premises engaged in a violent fight. They were armed with sticks, machetes, and knives, while a few people had already sustained injuries as frightened bystanders ran for safety. The security personnel within the secretariat, comprising members of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), quickly moved in to restore order. Some of the young men were arrested, while others managed to escape.

To my greatest disappointment, among those arrested was the son of a prominent traditional title holder who was also a member of the state executive council at the time. While the three arrested individuals were being prepared to be taken to the police station, a senior local government official recognized the young man and asked him to confirm whether he was the son of the traditional title holder. The young man confirmed his identity. The official then instructed the police officers to release him instead of taking him to the station as they had planned.

The police and other security personnel eventually handed the young man and the other two arrested individuals over to the local government official, who instructed them to leave and warned them not to repeat such behavior. After they left, the senior local government official explained to some colleagues who the young man’s father was and concluded by saying that if the boy had been taken to the police station from the local government secretariat, even the chairman could lose his position because of it. (At the time, the chairman was a sole administrator appointed by the governor and not an elected chairman.)

This incident paints a picture of how certain individuals within a state can become almost untouchable due to their influence and connections, and how such influence can sometimes extend to their family members. When people say, “I will lock you up” or “I will deal with you,” such statements are sometimes dismissed as mere threats or empty words. However, if state police is established in Nigeria without strong safeguards, accountability mechanisms, and institutional independence, such statements could potentially carry far greater consequences than they do today.

The concern is not necessarily about the idea of state police itself, but about whether the Nigerian political environment has developed enough institutional strength to prevent security agencies from being influenced by powerful individuals. Without proper checks and balances, state police could risk becoming a tool for protecting the powerful rather than an institution that protects all citizens equally.

If you also want to have an idea of what state police may look like in Nigeria, take a look at the activities of agencies such as the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in Lagos, Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority (KASTLEA) in Kaduna, Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) in Kano, and Bauchi State Road Traffic Agency (BAROTA) in Bauchi.

If you see these agencies as models of effective policing with the potential to sanitize a state, then state police may indeed be a good idea. This is because state police could become a more advanced version of agencies like LASTMA, KASTLEA, KAROTA, and BAROTA — but with firearms and far greater powers.

The concern, however, is that if existing state-controlled agencies sometimes face allegations of overreach, abuse of authority, or excessive use of power, then giving a similar structure broader security responsibilities without strong checks and balances could create additional challenges.

Therefore, the effectiveness of state police will depend not only on its establishment but also on the strength of the institutions, accountability mechanisms, professionalism, and safeguards put in place to prevent abuse of power.

3. What Then Is the Solution to Insecurity in Nigeria?

The solution to insecurity in Nigeria does not rest on the establishment of state police alone but depends on multiple factors that must be addressed simultaneously. While state police may be presented as one possible approach, the country must first focus on strengthening existing security institutions and addressing the underlying causes of insecurity.

A. Strengthening and Empowering the Existing Nigeria Police Force

One of the major solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges is to strengthen and empower the existing Nigeria Police Force. This can be achieved by recruiting more personnel, providing continuous training and retraining for existing officers, and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively perform their duties.

The police also require modern and reliable communication systems to improve coordination and intelligence sharing. They must be provided with appropriate tactical equipment and operational tools to enable them to carry out their responsibilities effectively and safely. Furthermore, there is a need to provide effective means of mobility that will allow police officers to respond quickly to distress calls and emergencies.

Police units should also be strategically positioned within communities based on security needs to ensure faster response times and better protection of lives and property. In addition, the welfare of police officers must be given serious attention. Officers who are poorly paid, lack proper accommodation, or operate under difficult conditions may struggle to perform optimally. Ensuring that officers receive adequate salaries, improved working conditions, and proper welfare packages is essential for building a professional and effective police institution.

B. Creation of Employment Opportunities

Another important factor in addressing insecurity in Nigeria is the creation of meaningful employment opportunities. One of the contributing factors to the rising crime rate in the country is unemployment and underemployment. When individuals seek legitimate means of earning a living but are unable to find opportunities, some become vulnerable to recruitment into criminal activities such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and other forms of organized crime.

However, creating employment opportunities goes beyond temporary empowerment programmes, conditional cash transfers, or short-term government interventions that have little or no lasting impact on beneficiaries. While such programmes may provide temporary relief, they do not necessarily address the root causes of economic hardship.

What Nigeria needs are sustainable employment opportunities that allow citizens, especially young people, to develop skills, earn stable incomes, and build meaningful futures. Investments in industries, agriculture, technology, vocational training, and entrepreneurship can reduce the number of people vulnerable to criminal recruitment. Addressing unemployment will not eliminate crime completely, but it will significantly reduce the pool of individuals who may be attracted to illegal activities due to economic desperation.

C. Government Must Ensure Social Justice to Curtail Insecurity in Nigeria

Another major factor responsible for insecurity in Nigeria is the lack of social justice and perceived injustice within the society. The government appears to care more about itself than its citizens, with many decisions being made not necessarily in the interest of the people but for the benefit of those in positions of power and authority. Leaders in Nigeria often live luxurious lifestyles both within and outside the country, while a significant number of citizens struggle to meet their basic needs and can barely afford a single meal per day.

Welfare programmes that are supposed to support the poorest and most vulnerable members of society are either inadequate or poorly implemented. Many policies introduced in the name of helping the masses are often viewed as political strategies designed to create the impression that the government cares, rather than genuine efforts aimed at reducing poverty and improving the living conditions of citizens.

On several occasions, some Fulani bandits have claimed that they were forced to take up arms because they could not find justice after losing their lands and properties. There have also been allegations that some community members in parts of the North East and North West sometimes view bandits and terrorist groups as more beneficial or accessible to them than government institutions. As a result, some communities may choose to cooperate with criminal groups rather than security agencies, especially when they feel neglected, abandoned, or treated unfairly by the government.

D. Functional Social Welfare packages must be put in place

Another important solution to insecurity in Nigeria is the establishment of a functional social welfare system. There must be deliberate measures to ensure that citizens, whether employed or unemployed, can meet their basic needs through initiatives similar to social security benefits practiced in some developed countries. The idea of social welfare should not be viewed as charity or a handout; rather, it is a mechanism designed to maintain social stability and reduce desperation among citizens.

The concept of social welfare exists because governments understand that when people are pushed into extreme poverty and struggle to survive, no amount of law enforcement or security measures alone can completely prevent some individuals from engaging in criminal activities as a means of survival. A rise in financially motivated crimes is often an indication of deeper social and economic failures, particularly when citizens lack legitimate opportunities to provide for themselves and their families.

When people are able to satisfy their basic needs through legitimate means, the motivation to engage in criminal activities is significantly reduced. However, when poverty, unemployment, and hopelessness increase, the likelihood of individuals being attracted to crime also rises. Therefore, addressing insecurity in Nigeria requires not only stronger security institutions but also a government system that promotes fairness, social justice, economic opportunities, and the overall welfare of its citizens.

Conclusion

The debate over state police in Nigeria is not simply about creating another security institution; it is about whether the country has built the necessary foundations to ensure that such an institution will serve the people and not political interests. While state police may offer advantages in terms of local intelligence, faster response, and community-based security, its success will depend on professionalism, accountability, independence, and strong safeguards against abuse.

Nigeria’s insecurity challenges are complex and cannot be solved by state police alone. The country needs a comprehensive security approach that strengthens existing institutions, addresses unemployment and poverty, promotes social justice, and rebuilds trust between citizens and security agencies. Until these fundamental issues are addressed, creating state police without proper reforms may only transfer existing problems from the federal level to the states. The real solution lies not only in establishing new structures but in building stronger, fairer, and more accountable security institutions.