Civil society organisations have urged the Federal Government not to rely solely on the establishment of state police as a solution to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, insisting that addressing the country’s governance, economic and social challenges is equally critical to achieving lasting peace.
The position was made known during a webinar organised by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) on Tuesday, titled “Insecurity and State Policing in Nigeria: The Way Forward.” Participants included the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Africana League and CAPPA.
The organisations advocated a comprehensive approach that combines policing and justice sector reforms with good governance, expanded economic opportunities, stronger accountability mechanisms and meaningful youth participation in any proposed state policing framework.
Speaking on “State Policing in Nigeria: The Imperative, the Risks and the Architecture for Accountability,” Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said insecurity should not be viewed merely as a policing problem.
He attributed Nigeria’s security challenges to governance failures, poverty, unemployment, corruption, impunity, weak institutions, communal conflicts and political exclusion.
According to him, while decentralised policing could improve security responses, it could also replicate existing abuses if adequate safeguards were not established.
Nwanguma called for national standards for recruitment, training and discipline, operational independence from political influence, independent civilian oversight, transparent complaints mechanisms, sustainable funding and safeguards against the use of state police for electoral intimidation or political repression.
He also urged the National Assembly to ensure broad stakeholder consultations on the proposed constitutional amendment for state policing, involving civil society groups, traditional institutions, women, youths, labour unions and security experts.
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Also speaking, Executive Director of Africana League, Dr. Glory Ukwenga, stressed the need to deliberately include young people in discussions and implementation of state policing reforms.
She noted that although youths make up over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population, they remain largely excluded from security policy discussions.
Ukwenga advocated youth representation on state police service commissions, police community relations committees, youth advisory councils, structured consultations with youth organisations and greater involvement in policing oversight and evaluation.
CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the focus of policing reforms should be on building a people-centred security system rooted in human rights, accountability and community participation.
He questioned whether Nigeria sought a police service that serves communities or one that merely protects political elites through intimidation and force.
Oluwafemi further argued that poor access to education, healthcare, electricity, water, roads and employment continues to fuel insecurity, warning against rushing constitutional reforms without first addressing the weaknesses of existing institutions.
The speakers agreed that creating state police alone would not resolve Nigeria’s security challenges, urging the Federal Government and the National Assembly to ensure any policing reforms strengthen democracy, accountability and the rule of law rather than create new opportunities for abuse and political interference.
