A United Kingdom-based human rights activist and legal expert, Chief Niyi Aborisade, has said the creation of state police in Nigeria is a good and ideal concept, but warned that Nigeria is not yet ready for its full implementation.
Aborisade emphasised that while decentralising policing is a necessary step in a federal system, stating that the country’s political and economic realities demand a cautious and measured approach.
The governorship aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party [PDP] in Oyo State in 2027 said state police aligns with the principles of federalism, but warning that it is premature to go that path at present.
“State police is a good and ideal concept in a society like ours with a federal constitution. It empowers governors, who are the Chief Security Officers of their states, to actually exercise control over the security agencies meant to serve their people,” he said in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Citing the controversial withdrawal of security aides from former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja during the 2006 political crisis, Aborisade condemned the excessive control wielded by the federal government over state security apparatus.
“That kind of federal overreach is undemocratic. A governor should not be left vulnerable or undermined by the very structure meant to protect citizens,” he added.
However, Chief Aborisade expressed serious reservations about the timing and potential misuse of state policing powers in Nigeria’s current political environment.
“Our democracy is still evolving—just about 26 years since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Many of our politicians are not yet politically mature enough to handle the responsibility that comes with managing a state police force. There is a genuine fear it could be turned into a tool of oppression against the opposition.”
He also highlighted the economic constraints facing many states as a major obstacle to establishing and sustaining a state-controlled police force.
“Can we really afford it now? Some states can barely pay salaries and are heavily reliant on federal allocations and loans. Without a stable economy and stronger internally generated revenue (IGR), state police could become an additional financial burden.”
To ensure a responsible and effective transition, Aborisade proposed a gradual, experimental rollout rather than immediate nationwide adoption.
“Let us test-run state police in six states—one from each geopolitical zone—for two years. That will allow us to study the outcomes, challenges, and strengths before expanding to the entire federation.”
The human rights lawyer concluded by stressing that while state police is the right direction for Nigeria’s future, now is not the time for hasty implementation.
“We must not jump into it because of pressure or sentiment. Let’s prepare the ground properly—politically, economically, and institutionally—so that when it finally comes, it serves the people and strengthens our democracy, not undermines it.”
