Vote Yes for State Police: Secure Our communities, Empower Our People

By Falil Ayo Abina

Nigeria is at a defining moment in its democratic history. The National Assembly has approved the constitutional amendment to establish State Police, but the reform will become law only if at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly ratify it. Their decision will shape Nigeria’s security architecture for decades to come.

This is not simply another constitutional amendment. It is a response to one of the greatest threats facing the nation. From banditry and terrorism in the North, to kidnapping in the South-West, separatist-linked violence in the South-East, oil theft in the South-South, and deadly communal conflicts in the North-Central, insecurity has spread across virtually every part of Nigeria. Farmers have abandoned their lands, businesses are closing or relocating, investors are hesitant, and ordinary Nigerians increasingly live in fear. No country can achieve sustainable economic growth when insecurity dominates everyday life.

The reality is that Nigeria’s current policing structure has struggled to keep pace with these evolving threats. Despite the professionalism and sacrifices of many officers, the Nigeria Police Force remains overstretched by the sheer size and complexity of the country. With over 220 million people, vast forests, difficult terrain, and growing criminal networks, a single centrally controlled police system can no longer provide the level of security Nigerians deserve.

The greatest weakness of the existing structure is its centralization. Governors are regarded as Chief Security Officers of their states, yet they lack operational control over the police responsible for maintaining law and order within their jurisdictions. They are held accountable by citizens whenever insecurity worsens, but often lack the authority to deploy policing resources quickly or implement strategies tailored to local realities. This disconnect weakens accountability and delays effective responses.

Even more important is the fact that most security threats in Nigeria are local. Bandits know the forests they occupy. Kidnappers understand rural escape routes. Oil thieves exploit intimate knowledge of creeks and pipelines. Criminal gangs depend on local intelligence and community networks. Effective policing, therefore, begins with officers who understand the language, geography, culture, and social dynamics of the communities they serve.

The first weapon against crime is intelligence, and intelligence is built on trust. Police officers recruited from local communities are better positioned to identify suspicious activity, gather information before crimes occur, and work closely with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community groups. Crime is prevented more effectively when policing is rooted within the community rather than directed entirely from a distant central command.

This is why the world’s most successful federal democracies have decentralized policing. The United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, and India all operate state or provincial police alongside federal agencies. Federal institutions focus on terrorism, organized crime, and national security, while state police handle local law enforcement and community safety. These countries have not weakened national unity by decentralizing policing; they have strengthened security through shared responsibility.

Nigeria should do the same.

The principal objection to State Police is that governors may abuse the institution to persecute political opponents. While this concern is legitimate, it is not a sufficient reason to reject a reform that has become a national necessity. Virtually every democratic institution, the judiciary, legislature, anti-corruption agencies, and even the federal police, can be abused if adequate safeguards are absent. The answer is not to preserve a failing system but to build stronger institutions.

State Police should therefore operate under clear constitutional safeguards. Independent Police Service Commissions should oversee recruitment, promotion, and discipline. National training standards should ensure professionalism. Federal oversight should investigate abuses, while strict legal provisions should prohibit partisan deployment of officers. State Police must complement, not replace, the Nigeria Police Force, with both institutions sharing intelligence and coordinating operations against crimes that cross state boundaries.

The economic case for State Police is equally compelling. Insecurity discourages investment, reduces agricultural production, increases transport costs, fuels inflation, and undermines job creation. Every kidnapping frightens investors. Every attack on farmers worsens food shortages. Every successful criminal operation weakens public confidence in government. Security is therefore not only a policing issue but also an economic imperative.

No reform will eliminate crime overnight, and State Police alone will not solve every security challenge. Better intelligence, stronger courts, modern technology, adequate funding, and effective leadership will remain essential. However, maintaining a policing structure whose limitations have become increasingly evident is no longer viable.

Nigeria has debated State Police for more than two decades. The security realities confronting the nation have now transformed that debate into an urgent necessity. The constitutional amendment before the State Houses of Assembly offers a rare opportunity to modernize Nigeria’s security framework by bringing policing closer to the people while preserving strong federal coordination.

The members of the State Houses of Assembly now have a historic responsibility. By voting in favour of State Police, they will not merely amend the Constitution; they will take a decisive step toward building a safer, more secure, and economically stronger Nigeria.

We at AACS have been consistent on this as one of the critical ways to attack insecurity in the nation (bit.ly/4pTgTwj). For the sake of national security, economic prosperity, and the protection of millions of Nigerians, the states should vote Yes to State Police.

Let’s get it done now.

Falil Ayo Abina Is the Chair at AACS ( Consulting & Principal Investment) and a member of The Presidential Fiscal Policy & Tax Reform Committee