The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has cautioned against what it described as the hasty implementation of the proposed State Police system, warning that the constitutional reform could be undermined if not backed by strong legal safeguards and a strengthened Nigeria Police Force.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the Acting National Chairman of the coalition, Chief Peter Ameh, said the passage of the constitutional amendment bill by the Senate, following its earlier approval by the House of Representatives, marked a significant shift in Nigeria’s security architecture but should not be seen as a substitute for fixing the country’s overstretched federal police.

Ameh noted that while the creation of State Police offers an opportunity to improve local intelligence gathering, community policing, and rapid response to crime, the Federal Government had yet to fulfil its promises to adequately recruit, equip, and fund the Nigeria Police Force despite worsening insecurity across the country.
According to him, the failure to strengthen the centralised police system has exposed the limitations of relying solely on a force controlled from Abuja to tackle banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, farmer- herder clashes, communal conflicts, and other violent crimes.

He warned that, without adequate safeguards, State Police could be vulnerable to political manipulation, election interference, intimidation of political opponents, and other abuses of power.

“The establishment of State Police presents an opportunity to bridge existing security gaps. However, it is not a silver bullet. The speed with which this constitutional amendment is being pursued raises legitimate concerns about the adequacy of safeguards against abuse,” Ameh said.

The CUPP chairman also expressed concerns over possible disparities in funding among states, uneven professional standards and coordination challenges between federal and state security agencies.
He urged the National Assembly to incorporate minimum national operational standards, independent oversight mechanisms, accountability measures and sustainable funding arrangements into the enabling legislation to ensure effective implementation.

Ameh further called on the Tinubu administration to complement the proposed reform by fulfilling its long-standing commitment to recruit more police personnel, improve their welfare, provide modern equipment, and strengthen the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.

He also appealed to civil society organisations, traditional institutions, security experts, and the media to closely monitor the implementation process and ensure professionalism, accountability, and respect for human rights.

According to him, addressing Nigeria’s security crisis requires more than structural reforms, stressing that the government must also tackle poverty, unemployment, porous borders, corruption, and weaknesses within the criminal justice system.

He maintained that although the State Police initiative holds significant promise, its success would depend on transparent implementation, effective oversight, and the political will to prioritise the safety and security of Nigerians.