A sharp divide emerged yesterday between Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly over ongoing calls for the establishment of state police in Nigeria.
Speaking at a constitutional review dialogue on national security architecture—titled “Nigeria’s Peace and Security: The Constitutional Imperative”—Egbetokun strongly opposed the creation of state police, arguing instead for a better-funded and restructured Nigeria Police Force (NPF). The event was organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Egbetokun anchored his stance on existing constitutional provisions, particularly Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which establishes a single police force for the federation. He emphasized that no other police body should operate within the country apart from the NPF, and that operational command rests squarely with the Inspector-General, as outlined in Section 215(1).
“Legal centralisation without operational decentralisation has hampered the NPF’s ability to effectively discharge its mandate across Nigeria’s diverse landscape,” Egbetokun noted.
He cited growing national security threats, including insurgency in the Northeast, banditry and kidnapping in the North-Central and Northwest, secessionist agitations in the Southeast, and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, as challenges that expose constitutional and institutional weaknesses in Nigeria’s current security framework.
Speakers Push for Multi-Level Policing
On the other side of the debate, Chairman of the Conference of Speakers and Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, backed the call for multi-level policing, asserting that state police is no longer optional but a “patriotic and strategic necessity.”
“A centralised policing structure, no matter how well intentioned, is now overstretched,” Ogundoyin said. “We face varied and localised security threats across the 36 states and FCT—state police offers the flexibility and proximity needed to address them.”
He acknowledged concerns such as potential political abuse, capacity gaps, and jurisdictional overlaps, but stressed that these are not insurmountable. With proper constitutional safeguards, independent oversight, clear command structures, and inter-agency cooperation, Ogundoyin argued that state police could enhance accountability and grassroots security.
He further noted that state governments already support federal police operations within their jurisdictions, despite limited constitutional recognition, and highlighted the need for improved intelligence sharing, better welfare for security personnel, and stronger legal tools to combat cybercrime, terrorism, and arms trafficking.
A National Debate Intensifies
While the Federal Government, through the Police hierarchy, continues to resist decentralisation of policing, the growing consensus among governors and state legislatures reflects increasing frustration with rising insecurity and the perceived limitations of the current policing model.
As constitutional amendment discussions continue, the clash between centralisation and decentralisation of security in Nigeria is shaping up to be a defining issue in the nation’s quest for lasting peace and effective governance.
