Nigeria policing reform debate

Nigeria is engaged in a debate regarding the establishment of a dual policing system to combat security issues such as banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and terrorism. The proposal seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow state-run police forces to supplement the existing Nigeria Police Force.

Proponents argue that the current centralized command structure lacks the manpower and local integration necessary to respond rapidly to crises. In his book, ‘The Imperative of State Police in Nigeria’, analyst Magnus Onyibe advocates for a two-tier model, suggesting that decentralization must be accompanied by modern technology, adequate funding, and firm safeguards to prevent the misuse of state resources by governors or influential individuals.

Support for the reform has expanded to include religious and military figures. At a book launch in Abuja, former Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor addressed the historical context of Nigeria’s security architecture. Additionally, the Spiritual Advisory Council of Christ Church—representing Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian leaders—issued a communiqué supporting a dual framework of state and federal police commands. The council stated that a localized system could more effectively address the country’s ‘seemingly intractable’ kidnapping and violent crime issues.

However, concerns regarding political abuse persist. Critics warn that state-level security structures could be vulnerable to influence from political power brokers. In Anambra State, frameworks like the Homeland Security Law 2025 and Operation Udo Ga-Achị have been cited as potential examples of how publicly funded security apparatuses might be diverted from statutory purposes to serve private interests.