A public affairs analyst, Kenneth Eze, has cautioned against the hurried introduction of state police in Nigeria, arguing that the move could deepen existing governance challenges rather than resolve the country’s security problems.
Eze, a civil society actor, said the growing support for state police has largely been driven by public frustration over insecurity, but warned that emotional reactions should not replace careful assessment of Nigeria’s institutional capacity.
According to him, while insecurity remains a major national concern, the belief that state-controlled police is an immediate solution overlooks deeper structural problems affecting the country’s security architecture.
He noted that although the Nigeria Police Force has an estimated strength of between 370,000 and 400,000 personnel, the actual number available for community policing is significantly lower due to the deployment of officers for VIP protection, guarding of critical infrastructure, and other non-frontline duties.
Eze argued that Nigeria’s challenge is not only a shortage of police personnel but also poor deployment strategies, weak intelligence systems, inadequate accountability mechanisms, and inefficient management of existing resources.
He said the argument that more police institutions would automatically improve security ignores the need for institutional reforms, warning that expanding a flawed system could only increase existing weaknesses.
While acknowledging that state police could theoretically improve response time and local intelligence gathering, the analyst expressed concern that Nigeria’s current political environment may expose such institutions to abuse.
He pointed to weak democratic institutions, limited independence of state legislatures, political interference, and strong executive influence at the state level as factors that could affect the neutrality of state-controlled security agencies.
Eze warned that recruitment, promotions, and operational decisions could become influenced by political loyalty rather than professionalism, turning security agencies into instruments of political control.
He further raised concerns about the country’s electoral environment, saying the creation of state police ahead of major election cycles could increase fears of intimidation, partisan enforcement, and reduced public confidence in democratic processes.
The analyst also rejected comparisons between Nigeria and countries such as the United States and India, which operate decentralised policing systems, arguing that those systems function within stronger institutions, independent judiciaries, professional public services, and established accountability structures.
He maintained that Nigeria’s governance challenges, including political interference and weakened local government structures, raise questions about whether state-controlled policing can operate effectively without strong safeguards.
According to him, policing involves the use of coercive authority and must therefore be decentralised carefully to avoid conflicts between federal and state security structures.
Eze warned that multiple security command systems could lead to duplication, rivalry, conflicting loyalties, and weakened national coordination during security emergencies.
Rather than immediately creating state police, he advocated for a reformed national policing framework that maintains federal oversight while introducing controlled decentralisation through improved operational structures.
He recommended strengthening community policing initiatives, investing in intelligence-led security operations, adopting modern technology, improving police welfare, and ensuring better deployment of personnel to frontline duties.
He also stressed the importance of independent oversight institutions to monitor police conduct and prevent political interference.
Eze concluded that the issue is not whether Nigeria needs policing reforms, but whether the country is prepared for the risks associated with state-controlled security institutions.
He said state police may eventually become an option, but only when Nigeria achieves the required institutional strength, accountability systems, and governance readiness.
Until then, he advised that the country should focus on strengthening and modernising existing structures while pursuing responsible decentralisation within a unified national security framework.