The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, has defended the association’s participation in the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, saying the NBA is committed to ensuring that the proposed state police system is built on strong legal protections and accountability measures.
Osigwe said the NBA’s involvement was aimed at contributing to reforms that would strengthen security while addressing longstanding public concerns over possible abuse, politicisation and misuse of state-controlled police structures.
He noted that while many Nigerians had previously opposed the idea of state police due to fears of governors using such forces as instruments of political control, rising insecurity across the country had increased support for a decentralised policing model.
According to him, the success of state police will depend on creating constitutional and legal safeguards that protect citizens’ rights and prevent oppression.
The NBA President stressed that constructive engagement with government does not prevent the association from holding authorities accountable, adding that the legal profession has a role to play in shaping policies that promote good governance and the rule of law.
The comments follow the inauguration of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, a move aimed at developing the legal framework required for the implementation of state police across Nigeria.
The proposed legislation is expected to address issues including policing standards, accountability, coordination between federal and state security structures, human rights protections and operational requirements for state police services.
