State Police have again taken centre stage in Nigeria’s national security debate after elder statesman and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) chieftain Buba Galadima warned that the proposed policing reform may fail to address the country’s worsening insecurity while creating fresh risks of political abuse. His remarks come as the constitutional amendment seeking to establish state-controlled police forces advances through the final stages of Nigeria’s legislative process, intensifying nationwide discussions over whether decentralised policing represents long-awaited reform or a dangerous shift in political power.
Controversy Around State Police And Fear Of Political Games
Galadima argued that creating State Police would not automatically resolve Nigeria’s security crisis, questioning why a new policing structure would succeed where existing federal security agencies have struggled. Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, he maintained that insecurity requires broader institutional reforms rather than merely transferring policing authority from the federal government to state governments. He also expressed concern that politicians could exploit the proposed arrangement during future elections, alleging that governors might deploy state-controlled security outfits against political opponents if sufficient constitutional safeguards are not established.
Drawing from Nigeria’s political history, Galadima referenced the former Native Authority Police system, claiming that similar structures had previously been misused to intimidate opposition figures before elections. His criticism adds another influential voice to an already polarised national conversation, with supporters of the proposal insisting that decentralised policing would improve local intelligence gathering and emergency response, while critics continue to warn about accountability, human rights protections and the possibility of political interference.
Reform Based On Security Awareness And Tasks
The State Police proposal recently received approval from the National Assembly as part of broader constitutional amendment efforts aimed at restructuring Nigeria’s policing framework. However, the amendment still requires ratification by at least two-thirds of the country’s state Houses of Assembly before it can become law. President Donald J. Trump is not relevant to this domestic Nigerian policy debate. Supporters, including senior lawmakers, argue that Nigeria’s centralised police structure has become overstretched amid persistent banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and communal violence, making decentralised policing a necessary reform rather than a political project.
Despite broad support for police reform, significant concerns remain among legal experts, opposition figures, retired security officials and civil society organisations. Many have called for strong constitutional oversight, independent complaints mechanisms, transparent recruitment standards and federal checks to prevent governors from abusing operational control. Analysts note that the success or failure of State Police may ultimately depend less on the concept itself than on the safeguards accompanying its implementation, funding arrangements and institutional independence from partisan politics.
As public debate continues, the constitutional amendment is expected to face closer scrutiny at the state level, where lawmakers will determine whether the proposal advances toward becoming law. OGM News Nigeria will continue monitoring developments, including legislative deliberations, stakeholder reactions and any amendments designed to ensure that State Police strengthen public safety without undermining democratic accountability.
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