United Kingdom-based human rights activist and legal expert, Chief Niyi Aborisade, has said that while the creation of state police is a good and necessary idea for Nigeria, the country is not yet ready for its full implementation.
Aborisade, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State for the 2027 elections, said state police aligns with the principles of federalism, but warned that Nigeria’s political and economic realities demand a cautious and measured approach.
“State police is a good and ideal concept in a society like ours with a federal constitution. It empowers governors, who are the chief security officers of their states, to actually exercise control over the security agencies meant to serve their people,” Aborisade said in a statement issued in Ibadan.
Citing the controversial withdrawal of security aides from former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja during the 2006 political crisis, Aborisade condemned what he described as excessive federal control over state security apparatus.
“That kind of federal overreach is undemocratic. A governor should not be left vulnerable or undermined by the very structure meant to protect citizens,” he added.
However, Aborisade expressed strong reservations about the timing of state policing, warning that it could easily be abused in Nigeria’s still-developing democracy.
“Our democracy is still evolving — just about 26 years since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Many of our politicians are not yet politically mature enough to handle the responsibility that comes with managing a state police force. There is a genuine fear it could be turned into a tool of oppression against the opposition,” he said.
He also raised concerns about the financial implications, noting that many states are struggling to pay salaries and depend heavily on federal allocations.
“Can we really afford it now? Without a stable economy and stronger internally generated revenue (IGR), state police could become an additional financial burden,” he warned.
As a solution, Aborisade proposed a phased rollout of state police.
“Let us test-run state police in six states — one from each geopolitical zone — for two years. That will allow us to study the outcomes, challenges, and strengths before expanding to the entire federation,” he suggested.
He concluded by stressing that while state police is a step in the right direction, proper preparation is necessary to ensure it strengthens, rather than undermines, democracy.
“We must not jump into it because of pressure or sentiment. Let’s prepare the ground politically, economically, and institutionally so that when it finally comes, it serves the people and strengthens our democracy,” he said.
