Get Guardian on GoogleAS insecurity continues to threaten lives, livelihoods, and economic activity across Nigeria, the debate over state police has moved beyond constitutional arguments to a fundamental question of governance: how can the country build a policing system that responds effectively to the security needs of its diverse communities?
This is why Marcus Ola Ogundola’s State Police in Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Perspective is particularly relevant. Introduced to the book through a friend, I initially approached it out of interest in the subject. However, its practical examination of decentralised policing soon became an invitation to consider the institutional, professional and political questions that must shape any reform of Nigeria’s security architecture.
Rather than treating state police merely as a political proposal, Ogundola examines the operational realities, legal considerations and institutional requirements associated with establishing a decentralised policing system. His discussion touches on local intelligence, community relationships, personnel development, accountability and the capacity of security institutions to respond to threats.
The book’s central relevance lies in its attempt to move the conversation beyond whether Nigeria should establish state police to the more consequential question of how such a system can be designed to protect citizens without creating fresh security and governance problems.
Beyond the Argument for State Police
Much of the public debate has focused on the advantages and disadvantages of decentralising the Nigeria Police Force. Yet the more important consideration is whether state police can deliver more responsive, accountable and effective security services.
Local authorities may have a better understanding of their communities, including their terrain, social relationships and security concerns. Such familiarity could strengthen intelligence gathering and enable law-enforcement agencies to develop responses that reflect local circumstances.
For rural communities, the implications are particularly significant. Insecurity can disrupt farming, restrict movement, discourage investment and undermine food production. When farmers cannot safely access their land or transport produce to markets, the consequences extend beyond personal safety to household incomes, food availability and the wider economy. This makes policing an important component of socioeconomic development, rather than simply a law-enforcement responsibility.
Ogundola’s work encourages readers to consider how security institutions can become more responsive to citizens. Its relevance therefore extends beyond security professionals and policymakers to community leaders, development practitioners and citizens concerned about the country’s future.
From Policy Arguments to Practical Structures
One of the book’s notable features is its attempt to connect the state police proposal with possible institutional arrangements. Across 13 chapters, Ogundola examines the history and structure of policing in Nigeria, arguments for and against state police, constitutional and legal considerations, comparative federal experiences, personnel selection, training and professional standards.
The author also considers possible state policing structures for Ekiti, Lagos, Borno and Anambra states. These examples introduce a practical dimension to the debate by highlighting the need to account for the different security conditions and institutional capacities of individual states.
The priorities of a state with extensive rural settlements and farming communities may differ considerably from those of a densely populated commercial centre. Similarly, states confronting kidnapping, difficult terrain or extensive borders may require different operational arrangements.
Consequently, decentralisation should not amount to reproducing an identical policing structure across the federation. It requires careful assessment of local threats, available resources, personnel requirements and institutional capacity.
For me, this practical orientation is among the book’s most engaging contributions. It shifts attention from the political desirability of state police to the institutional requirements for making it effective.
The Risks of Political Interference
However, decentralisation does not automatically guarantee better policing. Any serious examination of the proposal must confront the possibility that state police institutions could become instruments of political intimidation, suppression of dissent or personal vendettas.
The concern is particularly important in a political environment where the relationship between governors and security institutions can have significant implications for democratic accountability.
There are also questions about disparities in funding, training, equipment and institutional capacity among states. Without national minimum standards and effective coordination, decentralised policing could produce unequal levels of protection across the country. Jurisdictional disputes and the handling of crimes that cross state boundaries would also require clear legal provisions.
These concerns make professional independence, transparent recruitment, credible oversight, effective supervision and accountability indispensable. State police must serve the public, not the political interests of those who control state governments.
The success of the proposed system would therefore depend not simply on who exercises authority over it, but on the integrity of its leadership, the professionalism of its personnel and the confidence it commands among citizens.
Professionalism Must Come First
Another important area addressed in the book is personnel assessment and training, including psychological and psychiatric considerations. Policing demands sound judgement, discipline, emotional stability and the ability to make difficult decisions under pressure. These qualities make professional recruitment and continuous training essential to the credibility of any security institution.
Such assessments, however, must be professionally administered, evidence-based, confidential and non-discriminatory. They should support fair recruitment and fitness-for-duty decisions rather than become arbitrary barriers to employment.
More broadly, establishing new policing structures without investing adequately in the people expected to operate them would undermine the entire reform process. Recruitment, training, equipment, welfare, supervision and continuous professional development must be treated as essential components of an effective policing system.
Public confidence is equally important. Communities are more likely to cooperate with security agencies when officers demonstrate fairness, respect human rights and act with integrity. Local knowledge may improve intelligence gathering, but public trust is what encourages citizens to share information and cooperate with law-enforcement personnel.
A Contribution That Invites Further Debate
While Ogundola’s practical approach is commendable, the book would benefit from further editorial refinement, particularly in the presentation of some arguments and the documentation of statistical and comparative claims. More detailed sourcing and careful verification of figures and legal references would strengthen the evidence supporting its conclusions.
These observations do not diminish the importance of the subject. Rather, they reinforce the need for a debate of this magnitude to be supported by reliable evidence, sound legal analysis, and a willingness to examine competing perspectives.
Ultimately, State Police in Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Perspective invites readers to reconsider the relationship between security, governance and development. It raises important questions about whether the existing policing arrangement can adequately address Nigeria’s evolving security needs and what institutional changes could improve the protection of citizens.
The most compelling takeaway is that security cannot be sustained by structures alone. It requires competent institutions, responsible leadership, professionally trained personnel, informed communities, and citizens who have confidence in the system established to protect them.
By Daniel Adamolekun
