Former Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, has thrown his weight behind the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria, describing the move as a significant step towards strengthening the country’s security architecture.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Adeoye said the creation of state police would bring law enforcement closer to communities and improve the ability of authorities to address local security challenges.
His remarks come a day after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu transmitted a constitutional amendment bill to the Nigerian Senate seeking the establishment of state police and a dual policing framework that would allow federal and state police services to operate side by side.
According to Adeoye, multi-layered policing structures are common in developed countries, where federal, state and municipal police forces work together to maintain security.
“It is a mark of development and progress,” he said, noting that decentralised policing often makes law enforcement more responsive to local needs and community concerns.
Concerns Over Abuse
The proposal has generated debate, with critics warning that state governors could potentially use state police forces against political opponents.
However, Adeoye argued that while such concerns are understandable, they should not prevent the country from pursuing reforms needed to tackle growing insecurity.
He acknowledged that fears of abuse stem partly from Nigeria’s historical experience with regional policing in the First Republic but maintained that the country’s democratic institutions have evolved significantly since then.
“The basic fear that the majority of our people have regarding state police is the fear of abuse,” he said, adding that lawmakers should build adequate safeguards into the legislation to prevent misuse.
Call For Legislative Safeguards
Adeoye urged the National Assembly to establish strong legal guardrails that would ensure accountability and protect citizens from political interference.
He stressed that a state police system would complement rather than replace the federal police, with each level handling responsibilities within its jurisdiction.
Under the proposed arrangement, federal police would continue to investigate and enforce laws relating to federal offences, while state police would focus on maintaining security and enforcing state laws.
Part Of Wider Security Reforms
The constitutional amendment bill represents one of the most significant steps yet towards implementing state policing in Nigeria, a proposal that has gained increasing support amid persistent security challenges across several parts of the country.
Supporters argue that state police would improve intelligence gathering, response times and community engagement, while opponents continue to call for strict oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse.
