The Federal Government has moved closer to deciding its position on the proposed creation of state police as the deadline for Nigerians to submit their views on the controversial reform draws to a close.
The Presidency had opened a public consultation process to allow Nigerians and other stakeholders to make submissions on the establishment of state police, an issue that has generated intense debate over security, policing and the structure of Nigeria’s security architecture.
The public submission window closes today, August 13, 2026, marking an important stage in the ongoing discussions...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
The exercise is part of broader efforts to gather views from Nigerians before decisions are taken on proposed constitutional and institutional changes surrounding policing. Supporters of state police argue that allowing states to operate their own police forces could improve security by bringing law enforcement closer to local communities.
They maintain that a centrally controlled police system has struggled to adequately respond to the security challenges facing different parts of the country because the nature of insecurity varies from one region to another.
Advocates also believe state police could improve intelligence gathering, emergency response and community engagement, particularly in areas where residents are more familiar with local security threats and criminal networks.
However, the proposal has also faced strong opposition from Nigerians who fear that state governors could abuse control over state police for political purposes. Critics have raised concerns about the possibility of police institutions being used to intimidate political opponents, influence elections or suppress dissent.
There are also concerns about funding, recruitment, training, professionalism and the ability of individual states to maintain properly equipped and independent police forces.
The Federal Government’s consultation therefore provides an opportunity for these competing concerns to be considered as part of the broader conversation about policing reform in Nigeria.
The conclusion of the submission period does not mean that state police will immediately become operational. The proposals and opinions gathered through the exercise will have to be reviewed before the government determines the next stage of the process.
The debate comes at a time when Nigeria continues to face serious security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and other forms of criminality across different parts of the country.
The outcome of the consultation could consequently have significant implications for the future of policing and internal security in Nigeria.
As the submission window closes, attention is now expected to shift to how the Presidency and relevant authorities will assess the views received and whether the proposed state police arrangement will eventually form part of Nigeria’s wider security and constitutional reforms.
