A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress has said the proposal to create state police in Nigeria will not solve the country’s worsening insecurity challenges and may instead create fresh political and social problems.
The politician, Buba Galadima, made the comments during a television interview where he reacted to the ongoing debate on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, which has already been passed by the National Assembly and is now being considered by state legislatures across the country.
He argued that if both the current federal police structure and the military have not been able to fully address insecurity, introducing state-controlled police formations would not automatically produce better results.
He maintained that the core security challenges facing the country go beyond the creation of new institutions and require deeper reforms.
Galadima also expressed concern that the proposal could be driven by political interests ahead of future elections.
He suggested that state governments might use such security outfits for political advantage, including targeting opponents and influencing electoral outcomes, rather than focusing on public safety.
He referenced past experiences with local policing systems in Nigeria, particularly the Native Authority Police era, claiming that such structures were sometimes used to detain or intimidate political opponents before elections.
He said this historical pattern should serve as a warning about the risks of decentralising policing powers without strong safeguards.
He further warned that state police could worsen divisions in the country if recruitment becomes influenced by ethnic or religious considerations within individual states.
In his view, this could create situations where citizens from minority groups in certain states feel excluded or unsafe.
The chieftain added that such developments could undermine national unity and restrict the freedom of citizens to live and work anywhere in the country without fear of discrimination or harassment.
He concluded that instead of solving insecurity, the proposed system could increase tension, deepen suspicion among groups, and complicate governance if not carefully managed.
The State Police Bill is part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process and still requires approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before it can move to the next stage.
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