Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has cautioned against the potential abuse of state police by state governments, insisting that any constitutional framework establishing state policing must include strong safeguards to prevent political manipulation and protect citizens’ fundamental rights.

The senator, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, made the remarks on Thursday while speaking as a panelist at the “Building a National Consensus for State Police and National Security” conference organised by ARISE News and THISDAY in Abuja.

Addressing policymakers, security experts, public office holders and other stakeholders, the lawmaker said that while the establishment of state police has become a recurring subject of national discourse, its implementation must not create opportunities for executive overreach or political intimidation at the sub-national level.

She warned that without adequate constitutional safeguards and institutional independence, state police could be weaponised against political opponents and ordinary citizens.

“State police should never become an instrument of political oppression or executive intimidation. We must build a policing system that serves the people, protects democracy and remains accountable to the rule of law,” she said.

The lawmaker identified sustainable funding as one of the most critical requirements for the success of any state policing framework, stressing that creating new security institutions without a viable financial structure would undermine their effectiveness.

According to her, the Federal Government should develop a transparent and sustainable funding model to support operational efficiency, personnel welfare, training, intelligence gathering and modern security infrastructure across the states.

“Funding is one of the most important aspects the Federal Government must address. Without adequate and sustainable financing, state police will struggle to deliver on their constitutional responsibilities,” she stated.

The lawmaker commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to strengthening national security and praised the Inspector-General of Police for responding promptly to emerging security threats across the country.

Natasha said the responsiveness of the police leadership had contributed to ongoing efforts to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture.

“I commend Mr President and the current Inspector-General of Police for their prompt responses and decisive actions on security issues. Such responsiveness strengthens public confidence and reinforces our collective commitment to securing Nigeria,” she added.

The conference brought together government officials, security experts, civil society groups, academics and private sector representatives to deliberate on constitutional reforms, operational structures, funding mechanisms and accountability frameworks for an effective and accountable state police system.