I Welcome State Police—But Only If Politics Stays Out of It

The President has inaugurated a seven-member Presidential Working Group, led by Femi Gbajabiamila, to develop the legal framework for the implementation of state police.

On this issue, I believe the government is moving in the right direction.

For too long, Nigeria's security challenges have stretched the capacity of a centrally controlled police system. State police could improve response times, strengthen community policing, and allow security decisions to be made closer to the people they affect.

However, my support comes with one important condition.

State police must never become a political tool.

There must be strong constitutional safeguards to prevent governors or other political officeholders from using state police to intimidate opponents, interfere in elections, or settle political disputes.

If this reform is designed to protect Nigerians, it has my full support. But if it creates 36 politically controlled police forces without proper oversight, we risk replacing one problem with another.

I believe this is a rare opportunity to reform policing in Nigeria. The success of state police will not depend on passing a law—it will depend on ensuring that every officer serves the law, not politicians.