Civil society organisations have warned the federal government against treating state police as a standalone solution to Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, saying the country must also address the social and governance failures driving crime and violence.
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Africana League and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) gave the warning at a webinar organised by CAPPA on Tuesday.
In a statement by CAPPA Media and Communications Officer, Robert Egbe, on Wednesday, the webinar, titled “Insecurity and State Policing in Nigeria: The Way Forward,” came as the National Assembly advances the proposed constitutional amendment to allow states to establish and operate their own police services.
The House of Representatives passed the State Police Bill on 23 July, following the Senate’s earlier approval of the proposal. The amendment will, however, require the approval of at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before it can become part of the Constitution.
Speaking at the webinar, the Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said insecurity should not be viewed primarily as a policing problem.
