Nigeria Moves to Establish State Police for Local Security

Nigeria is transitioning its security architecture by establishing state police forces to enhance community policing and intelligence gathering. The initiative, driven by an executive bill from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, seeks to move policing from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list of the Constitution. This change allows state governments to fund and operate local forces alongside the centrally controlled Nigeria Police Force.

Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu stated during the UN Chiefs of Police Summit that the move ensures officers better understand the communities they serve. While the state forces focus on internal order and grassroots crimes like kidnapping and banditry, the Nigeria Police Force will continue to manage national security issues, including terrorism and cybercrime.

Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin described the reform as a masterstroke, noting that recruiting officers from local communities will improve response times. To prevent the potential for political or ethnic abuse, the framework includes safeguards that allow the president to intervene and direct federal police to take action if state forces intimidate citizens. The transition remains in a consultative phase, requiring further capacity building and comparative studies of existing systems before full operationalization.