Politicisation Biggest Threat to State Police Success, Experts Warn

Experts have identified politicisation as the biggest obstacle to the successful implementation of state police in Nigeria, despite growing support for the proposed security reform across the country.

The debate intensified following the passage of a constitutional amendment bill on state policing by the House of Representatives, with stakeholders expressing optimism while also highlighting potential risks.

Speaking in an interview, security expert Abdullahi Bakoji said state police could significantly strengthen security by bringing law enforcement closer to local communities.

According to him, officers recruited from within states would have a better understanding of local terrain, culture and social dynamics, enabling faster responses to criminal activities.

“State police will help in bringing security closer to the people because indigenes are always much more familiar with the terrain, the culture, attitude and behaviours of their people,” he said.

However, Bakoji warned that the system could become vulnerable to political manipulation if adequate safeguards are not put in place.

He expressed concern that governors and other political actors could misuse state-controlled police formations to intimidate opponents, suppress opposition activities and target critics of government policies.

The security expert also pointed to disparities in economic capacity among states, noting that wealthier states would likely be better positioned to recruit, train and equip personnel than poorer states.

“There is also diversity in the monetary capacity of different states,” he said, stressing the need for a framework that guarantees professionalism and loyalty to the constitution rather than individual political leaders.

Similarly, political analyst and Vice-President of the Nigerian Political Science Association, Murtala Muhammad, said support for state police is stronger than at any point since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999.

He attributed the growing momentum to rising insecurity, overstretched federal security agencies and increasing calls for decentralised policing.

Muhammad cited examples from countries such as United States, Canada, India and Germany, where decentralised policing structures operate successfully alongside national security systems.

Despite these advantages, he cautioned that implementation challenges remain, including funding concerns, operational sustainability and fears that state police could be used for partisan purposes.

Both experts agreed that the long-term success of state police will depend on strong institutional safeguards, independent oversight mechanisms, judicial checks and clear operational standards that guarantee professionalism, accountability and public trust.