By Engr. Ridwan Damilare Elemosho
Nigeria is currently confronting one of the most severe security crises in its history. Incidents of kidnappings, banditry, communal violence, urban crime, and cross-border threats have escalated alarmingly across diverse regions. At the heart of this challenge is a fundamental structural flaw, the centralized policing system anchored in Abuja is no longer adequate for securing a nation of 774 local governments, thousands of communities, and a rapidly growing, heterogeneous population. Security is most effective when anchored in the communities it serves; yet Nigeria’s policing remains distant, bureaucratic, and slow to respond, undermining both public trust and operational efficiency.
The concept of state policing is a pragmatic reform that aligns with best global practices and addresses Nigeria’s security complexities. Rather than threatening national cohesion, decentralizing policing empowers states to tailor security strategies to their unique social, cultural, and geographical realities. Officers recruited locally possess invaluable contextual knowledge and relationships that facilitate early threat detection and rapid intervention. This proximity also improves intelligence gathering and community cooperation, which are critical in pre-empting and combating insecurity. Centralized policing, by contrast, suffers from logistical and communication bottlenecks that prolong response times, often with dire consequences for vulnerable populations.
Lessons from federations like Canada demonstrate the effectiveness of a multi-layered policing system, where federal authorities handle national security concerns while provincial and municipal forces manage local law enforcement. Nigeria’s vast regional disparities in security challenges demand similar flexibility. The insecurity in Benue’s farmlands differs fundamentally from the urban crime in Lagos or the banditry in Zamfara. By devolving policing responsibilities, states can innovate security approaches, enhance democratic accountability, and foster greater citizen trust since communities know precisely whom to hold responsible rather than an overburdened federal police force detached from local realities.
Decentralized policing also promises considerable economic dividends. Persistent insecurity drives farmers from their lands, inflates transport costs, and dissuades investment, thereby stifling economic growth. State police, by ensuring timely and context-specific security, help restore public confidence, sustain economic activities, and protect livelihoods. In addition, devolving policing encourages the integration of community-based initiatives and culturally sensitive training, which are indispensable in a nation as diverse as Nigeria. When security structures reflect local realities, outcomes become more effective and sustainable.
Some concerns exist over the possibility that state policing could undermine national unity or invite political interference at the subnational level. These fears, while understandable, can be effectively addressed through clear legal safeguards, institutional accountability, and professional standards that ensure transparency in operations. When properly regulated, decentralization strengthens federalism by preventing excessive concentration of power in Abuja and distributing security responsibilities across multiple tiers of government. It also deepens civic engagement by making policing more accessible, responsive, and closely connected to communities. Trust and cooperation, the two essential elements of effective law enforcement are far easier to build when officers operate within environments they inherently understand.
Nigeria’s existing centralized policing apparatus was designed for a far less complex era and population. Today’s security threats demand a more adaptive, responsive, and community-rooted system. State policing is not merely a political adjustment but an urgent necessity to safeguard lives, revive economies, and restore public confidence. A secure Nigeria, where peace is sustained, requires empowering states and local communities to lead their security efforts. True security does not emanate solely from the centre, it must grow organically from the grassroots, underpinned by a framework that values proximity, participation, and accountability.
As Nigeria stands at this critical juncture, the question is no longer whether state policing is desirable, but whether the country possesses the courage to implement the reforms necessary for national survival. Every nation that has overcome internal security challenges did so by modernizing its institutions to reflect present realities, not by clinging to outdated systems.
Leadership is measured by the willingness to confront difficult truths and take decisions that prioritise the safety and dignity of citizens. State policing represents such a defining moment for Nigeria. Our future rests on adopting a security architecture that reflects our scale, diversity, and aspirations. Empowering states to take ownership of their internal security is a decisive step toward restoring peace, rebuilding trust, and laying the foundation for sustainable development. Nigeria must rise to this responsibility now, because every delay carries a cost measured in lives and shattered livelihoods.
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