During a national policy dialogue on state policing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed his support for the establishment of state police across Nigeria. The event, held in Abuja and attended by prominent figures including former military Head of State Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd) and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, focused on re-imagining policing in Nigeria.
Represented by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Akpabio pledged the 10th Assembly’s commitment to addressing insecurity in line with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s agenda to ensure national safety. He emphasized the importance of engaging in a national dialogue to forge a path towards a more secure Nigeria, highlighting the need for state police to uphold citizens’ fundamental rights and ensure justice and the rule of law.
Akpabio stressed the importance of establishing state police departments that are free from political, religious, tribal, and ethnic influences. He cautioned against the misuse of state police for private interests, urging for fairness, justice, and equity in the security architecture.
In his keynote address, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen emphasized the need for any initiative, such as establishing state policing, to align with the constitution and national security goals. He highlighted the challenges facing the Nigerian Police Force and the urgency of adapting to evolving security threats, emphasizing the importance of localised and responsive policing tailored to each state’s unique needs.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu emphasized the economic cost of insecurity, citing over ₦5 billion paid in ransoms to kidnappers since 2016. He underscored the need to amend the constitution to create state police, calling for a multi-layered policing approach that prioritizes local security.