Nigeria is witnessing a renewed push for the establishment of state level policing, as several state governors call on the federal authorities and national legislature to finally enact reforms that would allow states greater control over security. This renewed momentum reflects growing frustration over escalating insecurity, and a perceived inability of the centrally controlled police system to respond effectively to local demands.
According to a statement issued by the South‑West Governors’ Forum after their meeting in Ibadan on 24 November 2025, the creation of state police “can no longer be delayed.” The Forum, representing the six states in Nigeria’s South West geopolitical zone, simultaneously announced a new regional security fund and a shared digital intelligence-sharing platform aimed at enhancing security coordination across the region.
Why the Push Now? Rising Insecurity, Regional Initiative
Nigeria has endured a troubling rise in violent crime, banditry, kidnappings and communal clashes over recent years. Many governors and civic leaders argue that a centrally controlled police force covering 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory lacks the responsiveness and local knowledge required to address these threats effectively.
The South West Governors’ Forum argued that devolving policing powers to the states would enable faster reaction to local incidents, improved intelligence gathering, and better calibration of security strategies to the unique context of each state. Their plan includes not only the establishment of state police units but also the creation of a regional fund under the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission) to finance state level security operations, and an inter-state digital platform for real time intelligence sharing.
Beyond the South West, voices at the federal level echo similar sentiments. The incumbent President, Bola Tinubu, recently reaffirmed his support for state police as a necessary measure to confront the country’s deepening insecurity. In a November 2025 announcement, he committed to increasing recruitment for the national police force by 20,000 bringing total recruitment to 50,000 and additionally urged the National Assembly to begin reviewing national laws to allow states that request it to establish their own police force.
What the Proposed System Looks Like
Under the draft plan currently under discussion, policing would be devolved such that individual states would have authorized power to establish their own police services subject to constitutional amendment. The proposed model envisages:
-
Transfer of policing powers from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, allowing state legislatures to legislate on police matters.
-
The creation of separate State Police Service Commissions, distinct from the existing Federal Police Service Commission, to oversee recruitment, discipline and deployment of state level police officers.
-
Defined coordination frameworks between federal and state police forces to avoid jurisdictional conflicts and ensure national security integrity.
The objective is to combine national oversight with localized operational autonomy enabling states to tackle security challenges peculiar to them, while retaining some level of coordination for issues of national concern.
Support: Why Many Are Backing the Reform
1. Local Context and Responsiveness
Supporters argue a one size fits all policing structure cannot address Nigeria’s diverse security challenges. What works in Lagos may not apply in rural northern states or forest belts. State police could respond faster to grassroots security threats, such as banditry, communal clashes or kidnapping.
2. Intelligence & Community Policing
A state level system could foster better intelligence gathering and deeper community policing potentially restoring public trust in law enforcement by making officers more accountable and embedded within local communities.
3. Regional Collaboration
As demonstrated by the South West initiative, states could pool resources regionally, share intelligence, and coordinate cross border security operations. This collective effort could deliver efficiencies and stronger deterrence against trans-state crime networks.
4. Reduced Burden on Federal Police
Decentralization could relieve pressure on the central police force, allowing it to focus on national and cross state security challenges, while states manage local security needs.
Opposition and Risks: What Critics Warn Against
Despite growing support, the proposal faces strong resistance and legitimate concerns.
1. Risk of Abuse & Politicization
The North Central APC Forum, among other critics, has cautioned against state police, warning that state governors could misuse the force to suppress dissent, target opposition or marginalise minority groups particularly in ethnically or religiously diverse states. They describe state police as a “dangerous path” that might erode democratic norms.
2. Cost and Capacity Challenges
Establishing and sustaining a state level police force requires substantial resources infrastructure, equipment, training, and ongoing funding. Many states, already under fiscal pressure, may struggle to meet these obligations. Without federal support, state police could become under-resourced and less effective than intended.
3. Fragmentation and Inconsistencies
Uniform standards of training, discipline, oversight, and accountability are harder to guarantee under a decentralised system. There is risk of varying policing quality across states and potential for jurisdictional conflicts between state and federal forces.
4. Constitutional & Legal Complexity
Shifting policing powers requires amending multiple sections of the 1999 Constitution, a process that involves national and state level legislative alignment and possibly referenda. This presents legal and procedural hurdles that may delay or derail implementation.
What’s Next: Key Steps and Stakeholders
Legislative Review
The draft reform requires constitutional amendment. The National Assembly of Nigeria has been urged to commence review and pass enabling legislation for willing states. Provisions must include checks and balances to prevent abuse, funding mechanisms, and oversight structures.
Collaboration Framework Design
Federal and state governments along with security agencies must design a framework that ensures coordination, clarity in jurisdiction, standardised training, and operational protocols.
Pilot Program Considerations
One possible path forward is to pilot state police in a few states to evaluate effectiveness, challenges, and governance issues before nationwide rollout offering data and lessons for broader implementation.
Public Engagement and Trust Building
Public consultations, transparency, and community involvement are vital to building trust. Without citizen confidence, the legitimacy of any new police force could be undermined especially in states with histories of mistrust in law enforcement.
Conclusion: A Critical Juncture for Nigeria’s Security Architecture
Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment in its security and governance evolution. The push for state police reflects widespread frustration with prevailing insecurity and a longing for more responsive, locally grounded policing. The momentum from regions such as the South-West and the renewed backing from federal authorities underlines that the idea now has serious political and institutional weight.
Yet, the path ahead is fraught with challenges: legal complexity, risk of abuse, resource constraints, and the need for consensus across states with vastly different social, economic and political contexts.
If carefully designed, transparent, and adequately resourced with robust oversight and community engagement a state policing model could become a transformative pillar for Nigeria’s security and stability. Conversely, mismanagement could lead to fragmentation, injustice, and further insecurity.
For now, the question is less about if Nigeria will have state police but how, when, and under what safeguards.
