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Long awaited: Police reform in Nigeria to curb insecurity
At least two-thirds of the state assemblies must approve.
Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:
I agree Parliament Nigeria on Thursday passed a constitutional bill that paves the way for each of its 36 states to create and operate its own police force alongside the Nigerian Federal Police Force, a long-awaited reform aimed at addressing worsening insecurity.
This step brings us closer to implementing a decentralized policing system, as authorities seek to address the various security crises that have gone beyond the limits of the centralized system.
Nigeria's decentralized policing model is of paramount importance
Supporters, including President Bola Tinubu, argue that the decentralized model of the Nigerian police is crucial to improving local responses to violence ranging from insurgency and mass kidnappings to sectarian clashes, which have spread throughout much of Nigeria.
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of the constitutional bill, and the Senate was also expected to adopt it later on Thursday.
Allowing the governments of 36 states to establish and manage police forces
The reform is a major step towards allowing Nigeria’s 36 state governments to establish and operate police forces alongside the existing federal force.
The bill, which has cross-party support, still needs to be approved by at least two-thirds of the state assemblies before it can take effect.
It is worth noting that for decades, police operations were controlled from the Nigerian capital, Abuja, despite the sharply different regional threats, such as the jihadist insurgency in the northeast, armed robbery and kidnappings in the northwest and north-central regions, clashes between farmers and herders, attacks linked to separatists in the southeast, and oil theft in the Niger Delta.
State governors say they are responsible for security, but they lack operational control over the police in their states.
Reform advocates also argue that state police could improve response times, enhance intelligence gathering, and deploy officers with better knowledge of local communities.
According to a Reuters report, citing experts, Nigeria’s centralized police model slows down emergency response because the states lack direct control, and this trend has gained increasing momentum as insecurity has spread.
In May, gunmen abducted dozens of students and teachers in separate attacks in Oyo and Borno states, highlighting the extent to which criminal and rebel groups are widespread across the region.
Tinobo promised to increase recruitment in the federal police, giving the proposal more momentum than previous attempts that faltered amid political disagreements.
Critics warn that state governors may misuse police forces against dissidents or minorities, and questions are raised about funding, training standards and coordination, with analysts saying poorer states may struggle to maintain effective forces.
