The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, has emphasized the need for state police to improve community security, strengthen federalism, and promote local accountability. Speaking at the 2nd Annual Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps, Ike highlighted the limitations of the current centralized policing system. She noted that this system has left many states and communities waiting too long for security responses.
According to Ike, local police forces would be better positioned to understand and respond to the peculiar security challenges of their areas. She said state police could respond more quickly to threats, prevent the escalation of conflicts, and build stronger relationships with local communities. Ike stressed that Nigeria's diverse security realities required tailored policing strategies, citing the different security needs of riverine communities in the Niger Delta, metropolitan neighborhoods in Lagos, and farming communities in the Middle Belt.
The creation of state police would ease the pressure on the Nigeria Police Force and allow for more specialized and regionally appropriate policing, Ike said. She, however, warned that state police must not be established without adequate safeguards, constitutional clarity, and effective oversight. Ike called for a constitutional amendment and clear legislation defining the jurisdiction, limits, and relationship between state and federal police formations.
Ike also advocated for national standards for recruitment, training, and discipline, as well as the establishment of independent oversight bodies and civilian review mechanisms with powers to investigate abuses and enforce accountability. She urged state governments to ensure sustainable funding for policing while instituting strong anti-corruption measures in procurement, recruitment, and payroll management.
The NUJ FCT chairman stressed the need for shared intelligence systems, joint task forces, and mutual-aid protocols, noting that criminal activities often cross state boundaries. She emphasized that state police must be rooted in respect for human rights and community-policing principles so that they protect citizens rather than intimidate them.
Ike urged the media and civil society to investigate and explain proposals on state police, hold lawmakers and government officials accountable, and amplify citizens' concerns and experiences. She said the debate on state police should be inclusive, evidence-based, and transparent, rather than a momentary political conversation.
Ultimately, Ike stated that the goal of establishing state police is not merely a change of structure, but a change that delivers safety, trust, and justice for Nigerians. She added that state police, if implemented with constitutional rigour, strong oversight, adequate resources, and respect for human rights, could become a meaningful instrument for securing communities and deepening Nigeria's federal democracy.
Key points
- State police would improve community security, strengthen federalism, and promote local accountability.
- Local police forces would be better positioned to understand and respond to peculiar security challenges.
- State police must be established with adequate safeguards, constitutional clarity, and effective oversight.
