Legal expert Dr. Monday Ubani has stated that the recently passed State Police Bill may not reach its goals unless Nigeria reforms its local government system and implements strict protections against potential misuse. While he views the Senate’s approval of the bill as a historic move toward a more community-focused security approach, he maintains that the law alone is insufficient.
Ubani highlighted that rising threats like kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism have demonstrated the failures of a centralized policing model. Although he supports the transition to state-level law enforcement, he cautioned that governors could potentially misuse these forces for political retaliation or to suppress opposition. He noted that the effectiveness of the reform depends on shielding police recruitment and operations from partisan interference.
A primary concern for Ubani is the current weakness of local governments. He argues that community security is most effective when managed at the grassroots level. Because many local governments currently lack the necessary funding, independence, and administrative power, they cannot provide a reliable foundation for community policing. He proposed a three-tier structure where the federal government handles national issues, states oversee law enforcement, and local governments manage intelligence and crime prevention.
Ultimately, Ubani urged policymakers to prioritize institutional independence and the autonomy of local councils. He warned that without these foundational changes, the decentralization of police could simply replicate existing security failures at a smaller scale.
