By peterside Rejoice Eneky
A heated debate ensued Monday between the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, as both leaders expressed sharply opposing views on the controversial proposal to create state police in Nigeria.
Speaking at a high-level constitutional review dialogue themed “Nigeria’s Peace and Security: The Constitutional Imperative”, IGP Egbetokun cautioned against the establishment of state police, citing the current centralized framework outlined in Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He argued that the solution to Nigeria’s security woes lies in adequately funding and reforming the existing Nigerian Police Force rather than decentralizing it.
“The legal centralization of policing without operational decentralization has restricted the Nigerian Police Force’s ability to function effectively across Nigeria’s diverse and complex security landscape,” Egbetokun said. He highlighted issues such as insurgency, banditry, piracy, and communal violence, pointing to institutional gaps in inter-agency coordination and intelligence-sharing.
While acknowledging the rationale behind calls for state police, the IGP warned that Nigeria is not politically or institutionally ready to decentralize police powers. Concerns he raised include the risk of political abuse, inadequate funding at the state level, and the potential fragmentation of national intelligence and command structures.
He recommended strengthening federal policing through reforms such as standardized recruitment, training, community policing under federal supervision, and improved funding.
In contrast, Ogundoyin, who is also the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, backed the call for the creation of state police, stating that a multi-level policing system has become a patriotic necessity due to the growing insecurity across states.
“As presiding officers of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, we see firsthand the devastating impact of insecurity in our regions. A centralised police force is overstretched and insufficient,” Ogundoyin stated. He added that with proper legal safeguards, state police could offer more accountable and community-responsive security services.
Ogundoyin reassured that the Conference of Speakers remains committed to supporting national security reforms, including not just state police, but also enhanced intelligence-sharing, improved officer welfare, and a robust legal framework to address emerging threats such as cybercrime and terrorism.
He stressed that constitutional amendments should reflect the realities of modern security challenges and the voices of the sub-national units in Nigeria.
The dialogue, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser, brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on the future of Nigeria’s security architecture.
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