A constitutional lawyer and public policy analyst, Moses Obaditan, has described the creation of state police as long overdue, but expressed doubts that it may materialize before 2027 due to election-related political distractions and the complexity of constitutional amendments.
Barrister Obaditan was speaking on the Crest Breakfast Show while reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s renewed call for the establishment of state police to strengthen internal security.
Recall, President Bola Tinubu recently urged lawmakers to begin the constitutional amendment process, describing state police as a necessary reform to strengthen grassroots security and improve response capacity.
Barrister Obaditan who said decentralizing policing is critical to tackling Nigeria’s growing insecurity, argued that the current centralized policing structure has proven insufficient in addressing localised security threats across diverse communities.
According to him, “the success of state policing will depend largely on sincerity of purpose by political leaders, strong inter-agency collaboration and a clearly defined national framework to prevent abuse.”
He emphasized that “cooperation among federal and state security institutions must be guided by professionalism and a shared commitment to national unity.”
Barrister Obaditan also highlighted the need to improve the welfare, training, and operational capacity of police personnel.
He noted that adequate funding, modern surveillance infrastructure and effective accountability mechanisms are essential to ensure officers carry out their duties without ethnic, religious or political bias.
He maintained that Nigeria’s stability and long-term development require the political will to complete pending reforms, stressing that properly structured state policing offers a proactive approach to crime prevention rather than reactive crisis management.
He further observed that insecurity is not sustained by criminals alone but sometimes by the complicity or negligence of certain citizens.
He warned that individuals who provide bandits and other criminal elements with food, shelter, or sensitive information undermine national security efforts and weaken law enforcement operations.
The constitutional lawyer called on citizens to act responsibly, support lawful authorities and see security as a collective responsibility.
