A New Framework for State Police in Nigeria
The Nigerian police force is undergoing a significant transformation as a committee established by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has proposed a framework for the creation of state police services. The committee recommended that at least 60% of the current police officers be redeployed to state police services, aiming to improve local law enforcement and address the country’s security challenges.
Nigeria currently has about 370,000 police officers, which equates to one officer per 600 citizens. This ratio falls far below the United Nations’ recommendation of one officer per 450 citizens. If the committee’s proposal is adopted, approximately 222,000 officers would be moved to the state police services, significantly increasing the number of officers available for local policing.
The seven-member steering committee submitted its report to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. The report, titled “A Comprehensive Framework for the Establishment, Governance and Coordination of Federal and State Police,” outlines a two-tier policing architecture. It proposes the establishment of a Federal Police Service (FPS) and 37 State Police Services (SPS) across the states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The FPS will focus on national security, terrorism, interstate crime, and federal law enforcement, while the SPS will handle local criminal offenses, domestic violence, homicide, armed robbery, and community policing. According to the framework, the FPS will retain about 40% of the officers for national roles, with the remaining 60% redeployed to the state police services.
To facilitate this transition, the report recommends a Voluntary Transfer Programme (VTP), allowing federal police officers to transfer to their home-state or preferred State Police Service. Officers will receive a three-month salary Transfer Facilitation Grant, a transition training program, and a guaranteed Pension Continuity certificate.
The framework also proposes the establishment of a National Police Standards Board (NPSB), an independent 13-member federal board responsible for setting minimum national standards for recruitment, training, conduct, accountability, and funding across all police services. The NPSB will monitor and enforce these standards, publishing annual compliance ratings for each state service.
Community policing is placed at the heart of the state police model, recognizing the erosion of trust between communities and the police. Each State Police Service must maintain a dedicated Department of Community Policing, with Community Policing Forums established at every Local Government Area. These forums will include police officers, traditional leaders, women’s groups, youth organizations, and religious leaders. Community Liaison Officers will be assigned to specific communities, expected to speak local languages and be evaluated based on community forum ratings.
The document highlights the need for constitutional amendments to allow the coexistence of the FPS and SPS. A new Section 214A would constitutionally establish the NPSB. The report also addresses concerns about the potential weaponization of state police by governors, recommending constitutional prohibitions on partisan deployment, independent State Police Service Commissions, and criminal sanctions for unlawful orders.
Oversight mechanisms are layered to prevent political capture, including State Police Service Commissions, State Police Ombudsmen, NPSB inspections, State House of Assembly standing committees, body-worn cameras with secure cloud storage, and public performance dashboards showing use-of-force statistics and community satisfaction data.
Funding for the state police will come from a constitutionally-backed State Police Fund (SPF), receiving a 3% statutory federal allocation from the Federation Account, distributed by population, land area, security needs, and fiscal capacity, along with a minimum of 15% contribution from each state government’s security budget.
The implementation of the state police will take 60 months, with the first 12 months focused on constitutional and legal foundations, followed by the establishment of state services and VTP launches in the next 12 months, initial operations, and FPS withdrawal from local policing in the following 18 months, and full consolidation with an independent evaluation and legislative review in the final 18 months.
Differing Opinions on the Report
Security experts have expressed mixed reactions to the report. Mike Ejiofor, a security consultant and former Director of the Department of State Services, criticized the integration of 60% of Nigeria Police operatives into the state police, arguing that the state police should have its own newly recruited personnel trained by the federal police. He emphasized the importance of independence and highlighted concerns about the exemption of state police from fighting terrorism and banditry.
Dr. Ndu Nwokolo, managing partner at Nextier SPD, believes the NPSB could enhance public confidence by addressing concerns around political abuse of the state policing system. Similarly, Senator Iroegbu noted that the impact of the board depends on whether it is advisory or supervisory, suggesting it might be a compromise between proponents and critics of state police.
Dr. Kabiru Adamu, Managing Director of Beacon Consults, pointed out critical gaps in the framework, such as fiscal disparities between states and unclear boundaries for interstate coordination. He warned that without resolving these issues, the transition to state policing might simply decentralize the current challenges of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Role of the National Assembly
Meanwhile, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, emphasized the National Assembly’s commitment to creating an accountable state police model. He highlighted the importance of devolving policing powers to sub-national authorities to ensure effective governance across the country. The new police framework aims to incorporate accountability mechanisms that prevent the abuse of power by the political class, reinforce justice administration, and set guardrails for the preservation of fundamental human rights.
