CSOS: STATE POLICE NOT ENOUGH TO FIX NIGERIA’S INSECURITY CRISIS

CSOS: STATE POLICE NOT ENOUGH TO FIX NIGERIA’S INSECURITY CRISIS
By The New Experience Newspaper

Three leading civil society organisations have warned that establishing state police will not, by itself, address Nigeria’s deepening security crisis. They said the country must confront the governance, economic and social factors driving violence if any new policing model is to succeed.

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, Africana League and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, made the call on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, during a webinar hosted by CAPPA with the theme “Insecurity and State Policing in Nigeria: The Way Forward.”

The groups argued that while decentralising policing could bring officers closer to communities, the reform must be accompanied by justice sector improvements, better governance, expanded economic opportunities, stronger accountability, and deliberate inclusion of young people in security decision-making.

In his presentation titled “State Policing in Nigeria: The Imperative, the Risks and the Architecture for Accountability,” RULAAC Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma said insecurity should not be reduced to a policing challenge alone. He listed governance failure, poverty, unemployment, corruption, impunity, weak institutions, communal clashes and political exclusion as root causes that fuel crime.

Nwanguma stated that police can respond to incidents but cannot remove the structural conditions that create them. He cautioned that without proper safeguards, moving police powers from the federal level to states could simply replicate existing abuses at a closer level.

To prevent that, he proposed a set of minimum standards. These include uniform recruitment and training guidelines, discipline frameworks, operational independence from partisan influence, independent civilian oversight, transparent complaint systems, sustainable funding with accountability, and clear protections against using police for election intimidation or to silence opposition.

He also raised concerns about how the ongoing constitutional amendment on state police is being handled. According to him, a reform of that magnitude demands openness, serious debate and wide consultation. He urged the National Assembly to involve civil society, professional bodies, traditional rulers, women, youth, security experts and labour groups in scrutinising the proposal.

Dr Glory Ukwenga, Executive Director of Africana League, shifted attention to young people. Speaking on the need to include youth in any new security architecture, she said Nigerians under 35 make up more than 70 per cent of the population but are largely absent from current discussions on state policing.

Ukwenga recommended concrete steps to bring youth into the process. She called for youth seats on state police service commissions and police-community relations committees, the creation of youth advisory councils on security, and regular consultation with youth organisations. She also suggested involving young people in oversight and in evaluating police performance.

Beyond representation, she advocated recruitment pathways designed for young people, civic education on security governance, and digital tools that allow youth to report concerns, join consultations and give feedback on policy.

CAPPA Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi, speaking on “Building a People-Centred Security Framework for Nigeria,” said the debate should not just be about structure but about philosophy. He asked whether Nigeria wants a police service that communities can trust and relate with, or one that exists mainly to instil fear and protect elite interests.

Oluwafemi stressed that policing must be grounded in human rights and community participation. He questioned who would control state police and whether it would remain a tool for those in power or become an institution accountable to the people it serves.

He also linked insecurity to the collapse of basic services. According to him, lack of access to education, water, electricity, good roads and jobs continues to worsen the security situation across the country. He warned against rushing constitutional amendments because of the current crisis, and urged government to first learn from the failures of existing institutions.

All three speakers agreed that Nigeria needs more than additional police formations. They said the goal should be to build security institutions that are professional, accountable, respect human rights, and earn public trust.

They urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to ensure that any state policing law strengthens democracy and the rule of law, instead of creating new channels for political interference, repression and abuse.