A Lagos-based legal practitioner and rights activist, Dr Yemi Omodele, has said Nigeria is ready to introduce state policing but stressed that strong constitutional safeguards must be put in place to prevent abuse and political manipulation.
Omodele made the remarks while addressing journalists in Ikeja, Lagos, during activities marking the formal opening of his new legal chamber.
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| Dr Yemi Omodele |
His comments followed the recent inauguration of an eight-member committee by the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to examine the feasibility of establishing state police in Nigeria.
The committee, made up of senior police officers, was inaugurated on March 4, 2026, shortly after Disu assumed office as the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police.
According to the police chief, the panel is expected to explore how state policing could strengthen internal security amid growing concerns over insecurity across Nigeria.
Reacting to the development, Omodele said the concept of state police is not inherently flawed but must be carefully structured within a clear legal framework.
“If the government is serious, Nigeria is not too old or too young to have state police. But it must be properly managed,” he said.
The senior lawyer warned that without strict regulatory oversight, governors could exercise excessive control over state policing structures.
“When you talk of state police, the state will be in charge, and the governor could potentially do and undo.
“There is what they call ‘by the command of the governor,’ and such authority must not be used to perpetrate illegalities,” he cautioned.
Omodele also stressed that introducing state police would require amendments to the Nigerian Constitution to define operational boundaries and ensure accountability.
“The constitution must be amended to accommodate it and regulate its operational structure. Without that, there will be challenges,” he said.
Beyond the legal framework, he highlighted the financial burden associated with operating state police commands, noting that the cost of training personnel, acquiring equipment, vehicles, and maintaining facilities could be substantial.
According to him, only a limited number of states currently have sufficient internally generated revenue to sustain such security structures.
Another concern raised by the lawyer was the potential misuse of state police for political purposes.
He warned that state governments could deploy such security institutions to intimidate or suppress political opponents if adequate safeguards are not put in place.
“If political party A is in power in a state and party B challenges its authority, there is a risk that the state police could be used against opponents,” he said.
To mitigate this risk, Omodele suggested that existing community-based security outfits could serve as the foundation for state policing if properly regulated under federal oversight.
Using Lagos as an example, he referenced the Neighbourhood Watch security structure, noting that such initiatives could evolve into formal policing institutions under clearly defined legal framework.
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