The 36 state governors in Nigeria have renewed calls for greater constitutional powers over security operations within their states as discussions on the creation of state police continue to gather momentum across the country.
The governors made their position known following a high-level meeting focused on the proposed establishment of state police and the broader reform of Nigeria’s policing system.
According to a communiqué issued after the meeting, the governors want stronger constitutional recognition of their roles in coordinating security activities within their respective states. They argued that state governments should play a more direct role in maintaining law and order, given their proximity to local communities and their understanding of security challenges within their jurisdictions.
The meeting, held last week, brought together state Attorneys-General, legal experts and senior security officials from across the country. The gathering was aimed at harmonising proposals and developing a constitutional and institutional framework that could support a decentralised policing structure in Nigeria.
The push for state police has remained one of the most debated issues in Nigeria’s governance and security system, especially as the country continues to battle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and communal conflicts in different regions.
Participants at the meeting agreed that any future policing arrangement should be based on the principle of cooperative federalism, where both federal and state police institutions operate side by side under clearly defined constitutional responsibilities.
Under the proposed framework, the Federal Police Service would continue to handle offences considered national in scope. These would include crimes that cross state boundaries, terrorism-related offences, organised criminal activities and other matters affecting national security.
At the same time, State Police Services would be empowered to prevent crime, conduct investigations and support the prosecution of offences that fall within their constitutionally assigned jurisdiction.
According to the proposal, state police would focus largely on crimes created under state laws and other local security issues that directly affect communities within their areas of operation.
Supporters of the proposal believe that such an arrangement would allow security agencies to respond more quickly and effectively to local threats.
They argue that many of Nigeria’s security challenges are community-based and require immediate responses that are often difficult to achieve under the current centralised policing structure.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the recommendation that governors should be given stronger constitutional authority to coordinate security operations within their states.
While state governors are currently recognised as chief security officers of their states, many have repeatedly complained that they have limited control over security agencies operating within their jurisdictions.
Under the present arrangement, the Nigeria Police Force remains under the control of the Federal Government, with operational decisions largely directed from the national level.
Several governors have over the years argued that this system slows down responses to security threats and limits their ability to protect lives and property effectively.
The latest proposals seek to address those concerns by creating a clearer constitutional framework that would define the roles and responsibilities of both federal and state authorities in policing.
The meeting also considered the issue of infrastructure and operational assets that may be required for state police formations.
According to the proposals, mechanisms should be developed for the transfer or restructuring of certain existing policing assets, commands and facilities to support the establishment and smooth operation of state police services.
Stakeholders noted that such arrangements would help avoid duplication of resources while ensuring that state police commands are adequately equipped to perform their duties.
Another major recommendation from the meeting was the inclusion of stronger state representation in national policing decisions.
To achieve this, participants proposed that a rotating representative of state Attorneys-General should be included in the National Police Council.
The move, according to stakeholders, would strengthen state participation in national policing oversight, policy formulation and decision-making processes.
Supporters believe that increased state representation would create a better balance between federal and state interests while promoting cooperation between different levels of government.
Funding also featured prominently during discussions.
Participants stressed that any state police structure must be backed by clear constitutional provisions guaranteeing sustainable and predictable financial support.
They warned that creating state police without addressing funding challenges could lead to operational difficulties that may affect the effectiveness of the new security institutions.
“Without predictable financial support, state police services could face operational difficulties that would undermine their effectiveness,” stakeholders at the meeting stated.
The issue of funding has remained one of the major concerns raised by critics of state police.
Some observers have questioned whether financially weaker states would be able to maintain police formations, pay personnel and provide the equipment needed for effective operations.
Others have expressed fears that state police could be abused by political leaders for partisan purposes, particularly during elections and political disputes.
However, supporters argue that strong legal safeguards, constitutional checks and independent oversight mechanisms can prevent such abuses.
The debate over state police is not new in Nigeria.
For many years, political leaders, traditional rulers, civil society groups and security experts have called for reforms to the country’s policing system.
The argument gained more attention as insecurity worsened in different parts of the country, with communities increasingly relying on local security outfits and vigilante groups to complement federal security agencies.
Several states have already established regional security networks to address local security concerns. These include initiatives such as Amotekun in the South-West, while similar arrangements exist in other regions under different structures.
Although these organisations play supportive roles, they do not possess the full constitutional powers of a police force.
Advocates of state police believe that formal constitutional backing would strengthen local security efforts and improve coordination between various agencies.
Nigeria currently operates one of the largest centralised policing systems in Africa, with the Nigeria Police Force responsible for policing a population of over 200 million people spread across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
As discussions continue, the proposals from the governors and stakeholders are expected to form part of broader constitutional amendment efforts that may eventually be considered by the National Assembly.
Should the proposals receive legislative approval, they could mark one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s security architecture since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999.