• No going back on State Police - Jonathan
• Nigeria not mature for state police – IGP
'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - State Police has splitted opinions at a one-day National Dialogue on State Policing with the theme, "Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria," held at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
While declaring the dialogue open on behalf of the President, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima described as unwavering our administration's resolve to reform the Nigeria Police Force and enhance security across Nigeria.
He observed that the idea of state policing is not just a mere policy proposal, but a potential milestone in the evolution of the nation's law enforcement framework that would create the opportunity to fashion law enforcement in a manner that would closely address the various demands of communities across the country.
Shettima also noted that our administration is much aware of the complex security issues confronting Nigeria, and as such is continually developing and refining its strategies and methods to address the challenges effectively.
The VP said, "The commitment of the administration of President Tinubu to reform the police force and enhance security at both the national and state levels is unwavering.
"We view the outcomes of today’s deliberations as crucial inputs that will guide the government’s actions towards reforming the institution of the police and achieving a safer and more secure Nigeria."
Senator Shettima implored participants at the National Dialogue on State Policing to look at the idea of state policing from multiple angles, saying the President deserves commendation for being open and proactive towards the idea of reforming and decentralising the police force.
He stated: "In our deliberations, let us consider the implications of state policing from multiple perspectives. We must evaluate its potential to improve response times to emergencies, adapt to specific local challenges, and increase accountability. At the same time, we must address concerns related to the standardisation of training, oversight, and the safeguarding of civil liberties.
"Our Dialogue today should also be seen as an opportunity to listen, understand, and propose solutions that bridge gaps. It is essential that this forum is not the end but the beginning of an ongoing conversation on the issue of police and security sector reform in our country."
VP Shettima expressed delight that the 10th House of Representatives under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas keyed into the idea of state policing, noting that "the involvement of the legislature in executive reform proposals ensures continuity and synergy.
"Let us use this opportunity to engage and explore every option with the seriousness and diligence they demand. The President is committed to listening to your recommendations and insights, invaluable to shaping the policies that will lead us toward a more secure and just society," he added.
No going back on State Police - Jonathan
Former President Goodluck Jonathan at event said Nigeria could not afford to toy with the idea of state police any longer as it is the only solution to the security challenges facing the country.
Jonathan said, “We don’t need to debate whether we should have state police or not, I think it’s already settled. There is no way to manage our internal security if the states do not have their police,” Jonathan said, adding that the 2014 National Conference set up during his administration supported the creation of state police.
“We must not waste our time debating whether we should have state police or not, we should concentrate on how to check abuses by state political actors.
“The key area that we need to debate is how we will run the state police to secure the security architecture of the country so that it is most effective and devoid of any political influence.”
The former President said the idea of establishing state police should have been concretised while he was in office as the President and Commander-in-Chief.
“If we are talking of state police, we must also rejig the Independent National Electoral Commission, so that the state police would not be used to favour the ruling party,” he said.
Jonathan said with state police, kidnapping and other criminalities would be reduced to the barest minimum.
“We have not been able to control the issue of kidnapping since it started, and we need to reduce it to the barest minimum,” he said.
In the same vein, former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) maintained that in order to make peace and ensure a safe society, governors must be transparent, responsible, and honest as well as make the citizens go about their normal businesses.
He said the government should make laws to provide for an orderly environment, urging citizens to stop destroying or vandalizing public properties.
He also advised that the traditional institution and royal fathers should be given roles to play and be engaged in maintaining peace and order in their respective domains.
Also in his remarks, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, thanked participants at the Dialogue, especially President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, Gen Abdulsalami, and former President Jonathan for lending their voices to the issue of establishing state police in the country.
He stated that as former President and Head of State, their contributions will provide direction to the discourse on the issue of state police given the dimension of insecurity in the country.
In his opening remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu, thanked participants at the Dialogue, saying they are gathered for a critical national security dialogue that demands critical solutions.
He recalled that the national dialogue gained momentum after President Tinubu called a meeting of governors and other stakeholders at the Presidential Villa to discuss issues about establishing state police in the country.
“The National Assembly is currently considering a bill towards establishing state police", he said, stressing that other countries like the "United States of America have a multi-layer police system with federal, state, county and the FBI.”
• Nigeria not mature for state police – IGP
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, said the country is yet to mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police.
IGP Egbetokun represented by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ben Okolo, Egbetokun, who spoke on the theme, “Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria”, said, “It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria police force that Nigeria is yet to mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police.”
The IGP said instead of creating a State Police structure, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) should be merged as a Department under the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
He also called for increased budgetary allocations to the Nigerian Police for effective training of personnel in modern policing to enhance efficiency and amendment of the 1999 Constitution for more empowerment and funding of police, which is the lead internal security agency.
Egbetokun noted that if State Police is established, governors will use the structure under their control for political or personal gains, undermining human rights and security, adding that creating state police at the moment will exacerbate ethnic tension in the country.
He said the agitations for state police were informed by the perception that Police were not living up to their responsibility, a development caused by a motley of challenges militating against the Force.
The IGP identified some of the challenges as inadequate manpower, inadequate operational equipment: arms and ammunition, surveillance equipment, inadequate training due to poor funding as well as inadequate office and barracks accommodations.
“Most police stations and barracks that were built over the years in the colonial period have not undergone any renovations despite the increase in the strength of the Force. These have impacted negatively on the performance of the personnel.
“The police leadership is recommending the following instead of creating state police: merging the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and Federal Road Safety Corps as a department under the Nigeria Police.
“Yearly police recruitment should be increased by at least 30,000 to meet the United Nations requirements. Increase in the budgetary allocations to the Nigerian Police Force. Effective training of personnel in modern policing to enhance efficiency,” he stated.
On his part, the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Geidam, observed that while state police was essential to local security, it had the potential for political interference and human rights abuse.
“Establishment of state police is not without its demerits. One of them is political interference. Oversight and accountability are paramount and must be put in place to ensure the interference is reduced. An implementation roadmap is essential for successful operation,” he said.
DAILY COURIER reports that the national dialogue is the beginning of deliberations on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (alteration) bill 2023 (Establishment of State Police) sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and 13 others.
The proposal in the bill, designed to improve public safety and strengthen law enforcement in Nigeria by decentralising the police, also provides for state police alongside the federal police.
It outlines a constitutional framework for states that choose to establish and maintain their service.
While giving his welcome remarks, Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who also chairs the House Constitution Review Committee, said that the bill “aims to clarify the scope of the powers and responsibilities of the federal and state police, and to provide for their funding and oversight.”
Present at the event were the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin; Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam; Minister of Budget and National Development, Dr. Atiku Bagudu, and Minister of State for Agriculture, Mustapha Baba Shehuri.
Others were former Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III; Ooni of Ife, HRM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; the Obi of Onitsha, HRM Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe; the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, among others.
