A retired senior police officer, DSP Adamu M. Muhammad (Rtd), has warned that the proposed establishment of state police could hand governors a dangerous tool for political intimidation if Nigeria fails to reform its existing policing system.
According to DAILY POST following the Senate’s passage of a bill seeking to establish state police nationwide, Muhammad argued that the proposal risks deepening insecurity rather than solving it.
According to him, Nigeria’s current political climate, marked by political patronage, election violence and the alleged misuse of local security outfits, makes state police vulnerable to abuse.
“Creating State Police at this moment poses serious risks to national stability, internal security and the safety of law-abiding citizens,” he said.
Muhammad maintained that the growing agitation for state police overlooks the fundamental problems crippling the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), including years of neglect, inadequate funding and poor welfare for officers.
He alleged that successive governments weakened the Force by stripping it of core responsibilities and creating agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to perform functions previously handled by police departments.
The retired officer also claimed that police assets, including barracks, operational vehicles and landed properties, had been sold over the years without corresponding improvements in the Force.
He lamented that many police personnel are forced to purchase their own uniforms and operational equipment, while divisional commands struggle with inadequate funding.
Questioning the rationale behind establishing separate police organisations across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad said the Federal Government has yet to adequately fund the constitutionally recognised Nigeria Police Force.
“If the Federal Government has abandoned its statutory responsibility to a single constitutionally created police force, why should anyone believe that creating multiple state-controlled forces will fare better?” he asked.
He further warned that multiple state police formations could create inconsistent operational standards, jurisdictional disputes and weaken coordinated responses to crimes such as terrorism, kidnapping and cybercrime.
Rather than creating new police structures, Muhammad urged the government to prioritise comprehensive reforms of the Nigeria Police Force through improved funding, better welfare, modern equipment, expanded community policing, increased recruitment and stronger oversight mechanisms.
“Nigeria’s immediate priority should be the comprehensive reform, professionalisation, modernisation and adequate funding of the existing Nigeria Police Force,” he said.
He added that a stronger and better-funded national police force remains “the most practical and sustainable foundation for safeguarding security, preserving constitutional order and maintaining national unity.”
