As Nigeria grapples with mounting security challenges, the debate over state policing has evolved from a theoretical proposition into an urgent national imperative, bringing into sharp focus the complex task of managing the challenges associated with its implementation, writes Linus Aleke.
Driven by rising insecurity across the federation, the proposal for decentralised policing has gained renewed momentum, even as it continues to raise complex constitutional, financial and operational questions.
At the centre of this evolving conversation is President Bola Tinubu, whose position on state policing has remained consistently supportive and unequivocal.
Speaking during a Ramadan dinner with members of the National Assembly, where governance and security reforms were discussed, the President underscored the need for a policing structure that reflects Nigeria’s diversity and complexity.
According to him, Nigeria’s security framework must evolve to meet contemporary realities, stressing that a centralised system is no longer sufficient to address the scale and spread of threats across the country.
