State Police Alone Won't End Insecurity, Restructure Nigeria — Ezekwesili

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has cautioned that the creation of state police alone will not resolve Nigeria's worsening insecurity, insisting that only a comprehensive restructuring of the country's governance system can address the root causes of the crisis.

Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has warned that the establishment of state police will not solve Nigeria's deepening insecurity, arguing that the problem requires a full restructuring of the country's political and governance architecture.

Her comments come amid renewed national debate over state policing, following the recent passage of the State Police Bill by the House of Representatives, which seeks to empower states to establish and operate their own police forces as a means of tackling the rising wave of insecurity across the country.

Ezekwesili, a co-founder of Transparency International, argued that creating state police in isolation, without a corresponding overhaul of the entire federal structure, would amount to a piecemeal approach that fails to address the underlying problems fuelling insecurity.

According to her, Nigeria's security challenges are deeply rooted in the country's flawed and over-centralised governance system, which she said has weakened accountability, stifled development, and left states overly dependent on the federal government.

She maintained that true federalism, devolution of powers, and a restructured system that gives states greater control over their resources and security are essential to building a safer and more functional country.

Ezekwesili warned that without a holistic restructuring, the creation of state police could be exploited by some governors and political actors, potentially leading to the abuse of such forces for political purposes rather than genuine security needs.

She stressed that any reform aimed at addressing insecurity must be accompanied by strong institutions, accountability mechanisms, and safeguards to prevent the misuse of security agencies against citizens and political opponents.

The former minister called on Nigeria's leaders to summon the political will to embark on a comprehensive restructuring of the country, describing it as the only sustainable path to resolving the recurring challenges of insecurity, poverty, and underdevelopment.

She urged the National Assembly and other stakeholders to look beyond quick fixes and prioritise far-reaching reforms capable of repositioning the country for security, stability, and inclusive growth.