Nigeria’s debate on establishing state police gained momentum at the ARISE News Town Hall in Abuja, where government officials, lawmakers, governors, legal experts and security stakeholders broadly backed decentralised policing but warned against poor implementation.
Defence Minister General Christopher Musa (retd.) said state police could become Nigeria’s “silver bullet” against insecurity if properly implemented, but warned it could become “Hiroshima” if driven by ethnic, religious or political interests. He advocated a phased rollout and broader police reforms.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued governors cannot be effective chief security officers without operational control of the police, while Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah said rapid response is critical, citing a more than 90 per cent reduction in violent crime through technology-driven security measures.
Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele stressed that financial independence and detailed legislation are essential, while historian Bukar Usman advocated community-based policing. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak endorsed decentralised policing, saying local officers possess stronger community intelligence but strategic intelligence should remain under federal control.
Human rights lawyer Chidi Odinkalu criticised the limited public consultation on the proposed reforms, while Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang called for a “citizens’ police, not politicians’ police.” Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan urged Nigerians to support reform, and presidential aide Dubem Moghalu said Nigeria would develop a policing model tailored to its constitutional and security realities rather than copy the United States.
