A high-level town hall meeting in Abuja has highlighted the growing momentum for establishing state-controlled police forces in Nigeria. While participants largely agreed that the current centralized system is ineffective, they cautioned that the transition requires extreme care to avoid potential political misuse or structural failure.
Defence Minister General Christopher Musa (Rtd) captured the complexity of the issue, describing state policing as a potential solution to national security threats if managed correctly, or a source of catastrophe if executed poorly. He advocated for a phased introduction starting in state capitals to ensure proper oversight and operational readiness.
Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole argued that the current framework is illogical, as it designates governors as chief security officers while denying them any actual control over police personnel. Conversely, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah emphasized that effective security relies on rapid response times, which only localized command structures can provide. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele warned that financial independence is crucial; without it, state forces could face systemic collapse.
International expert and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak suggested that localized policing is easier to regulate than a monolithic force, provided that sophisticated intelligence remains a federal responsibility. However, human rights advocate Chidi Odinkalu expressed strong reservations about the lack of public consultation in the drafting of these reforms, urging for more citizen involvement.
Other leaders, including Governor Caleb Mutfwang and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stressed that the focus must be on creating a force that protects the citizenry rather than serving political elites. Presidential aide Dubem Moghalu confirmed that the government is drafting a National Policing Bill, clarifying that the nation intends to design a unique framework suited to its own federal structure rather than simply importing models from abroad.
