A retired senior police officer, DSP Adamu M. Muhammad (Rtd), has cautioned that establishing state police across Nigeria without first addressing the longstanding challenges facing the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) could worsen insecurity and undermine national unity.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, Muhammad reacted to the Senate’s passage of a bill seeking to establish state police, stressing that while the country’s worsening security situation has intensified calls for decentralised policing, the proposal fails to address the root causes of ineffective law enforcement.
According to him, creating state police under the current circumstances may introduce new security challenges rather than provide lasting solutions.
”Creating State Police at this moment poses serious risks to national stability, internal security and the safety of law-abiding citizens,” he said.
Decades of Neglect Have Weakened the Nigeria Police Force
The retired police officer argued that successive governments have gradually weakened the Nigeria Police Force through inadequate funding, poor welfare packages, insufficient training, and institutional neglect.
He noted that several agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), now perform responsibilities that were once handled by specialised police departments.
Muhammad also alleged that several police assets, including barracks, operational vehicles, and landed properties, had been disposed of over the years without corresponding investments to strengthen the Force.
Poor Welfare Continues to Affect Police Operations
Highlighting the difficult conditions under which officers operate, Muhammad lamented that many police personnel purchase their own uniforms, equipment, and other operational materials due to inadequate government support.
He further disclosed that numerous police divisions receive little or no operational funding, making effective policing increasingly difficult.
According to him, creating multiple state-controlled police organisations without adequately funding the existing national police structure raises serious concerns about sustainability.
”If the Federal Government has abandoned its statutory responsibility to a single constitutionally created police force, why should anyone believe that creating multiple state-controlled forces will fare better?” he queried.
Fear of Political Interference
Muhammad expressed concern that Nigeria’s political environment could expose state police to manipulation by governors and other political actors.
He warned that the country’s history of political patronage, election-related violence, and allegations surrounding local security outfits suggests that state police could easily become instruments of political intimidation rather than impartial law enforcement agencies.
He further explained that establishing separate police organisations across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory could create inconsistent operational standards, overlapping jurisdictions, and coordination challenges in tackling crimes such as terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, organised crime, and cybercrime.
Expert Recommends Comprehensive Police Reform
Rather than creating an entirely new policing system, Muhammad urged the Federal Government to prioritise comprehensive reforms of the Nigeria Police Force.
He recommended increased funding, improved officers’ welfare, recruitment of more personnel, acquisition of modern equipment, expanded community policing initiatives, enhanced training programmes, and stronger accountability mechanisms.
According to him, these reforms would significantly improve the capacity of the existing police institution to effectively combat crime nationwide.
”Nigeria’s immediate priority should be the comprehensive reform, professionalisation, modernisation and adequate funding of the existing Nigeria Police Force.”
He concluded that a stronger, better-equipped, and professionally managed national police force remains the most practical and sustainable foundation for guaranteeing public safety, protecting constitutional order, and preserving Nigeria’s unity.
In conclusion, the debate over state police continues to generate mixed reactions among security experts, lawmakers, and citizens. While supporters believe decentralised policing could improve local security, critics argue that without comprehensive reforms to the Nigeria Police Force, creating state police may introduce new challenges instead of solving existing security problems.
As discussions continue, many stakeholders maintain that strengthening the current policing system should remain Nigeria’s immediate priority in the fight against insecurity.