Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, voiced his backing for the establishment of state police nationwide during an event in Abuja. This show of support took place at a national policy dialogue on state policing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review.
The gathering, attended by prominent figures like former military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, and Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, focused on the theme, “Pathways to peace: Re-imaging policing in Nigeria.”
In his absence, the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, represented Akpabio and assured the commitment of the 10th Assembly to address insecurity challenges in alignment with the goals of the administration led by President Bola Tinubu to ensure the safety of all Nigerians.
Akpabio addressed the complexity surrounding the concept of state police, highlighting the need for a national dialogue facilitated by the House of Representatives to navigate towards a more secure Nigeria. He emphasized the role of President Tinubu in steering the nation in the direction of establishing state police.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that state police units are free from political, religious, tribal, and ethnic influences, advocating for a security architecture that upholds justice, transparency, and accountability. Akpabio cautioned against the misuse of state police for personal gains or as a tool for oppression.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, in his keynote address, pointed out that any initiative for state policing must adhere to the constitution and align with national security goals and public welfare.
He emphasized the necessity of a national consensus to effectively implement state policing, acknowledging the diversity of opinions in managing local policing while recognizing the constitutional establishment of the Nigerian Police Force as a unitary entity.
Tajudeen highlighted the challenges faced by the police force, leading to the military assuming policing functions across the states, which has strained the armed forces’ ability to address broader security issues.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, revealed the significant monetary losses to kidnappers in ransom payments over the past eight years, stressing the urgency of creating a state police system by amending the constitution to enhance police effectiveness in addressing criminal activities.
Kalu underlined the pressing need for multi-layered policing approaches to tackle security threats and terrorism, highlighting the critical role of local security in fostering a responsive policing environment in Nigeria.
Stakeholders present at the event expressed their support for state police while cautioning against its exploitation for political motives by state governors.