State police could fail without strong local governments – Ubani

By Henry Ojelu

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Monday Ubani, has cautioned that the newly enacted State Police Bill may not achieve its intended goals unless Nigeria strengthens its local government system and implements robust safeguards against abuse.

Ubani made this observation in response to the Senate’s passage of the State Police Bill, which had previously been approved by the House of Representatives.

He described the legislation as a historic milestone in Nigeria’s constitutional and security evolution, noting that it represents a significant shift toward a more federal and community‑driven security framework.

“The passage of the State Police Bill represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s quest to create a more responsive, efficient and community‑oriented security framework,” Ubani said.

According to him, the growing wave of insecurity across the country—including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, farmer‑herder clashes and armed robbery—has exposed the limitations of Nigeria’s centralized policing system.

He noted that security experts, constitutional scholars, traditional rulers and civil society groups have long advocated for policing structures that are closer to the people and better equipped to address local security challenges.

While welcoming the reform, Ubani warned that concerns about potential abuse of state police by governors should not be ignored.

“Critics have consistently warned that State Police could be transformed into instruments of political intimidation, electoral manipulation, suppression of dissent and harassment of opposition figures,” he said.

He acknowledged reports that the legislation contains safeguards aimed at preventing abuse but stressed that the success of the reform would depend largely on implementation.

“The true measure of the reform will not lie in the text of the law alone but in the strength of the institutions established to enforce it,” he stated.

The senior lawyer argued that recruitment, promotion, discipline and operational control of state police formations must be insulated from partisan political influence, while oversight bodies must remain independent and effective.

Ubani identified the weakness of local government administration as the greatest challenge facing the proposed state policing structure.

He said security is most effective when rooted in communities through intelligence gathering, crime prevention and conflict resolution mechanisms.

“The local government is constitutionally designed to be the closest tier of government to the people and should ordinarily serve as the foundation upon which community security structures are built,” he said.

According to him, many local governments currently lack autonomy, resources and institutional capacity, making it difficult for them to effectively support grassroots security initiatives.

“The mere transfer of policing powers from the Federal Government to State Governments does not automatically translate into effective grassroots security,” he warned.

Ubani advocated a three‑tier security arrangement in which the Federal Government handles national security and inter‑state crimes, states coordinate local law enforcement, and local governments serve as hubs for community policing, intelligence gathering and conflict prevention.

He urged policymakers to focus on strengthening local government autonomy, ensuring transparency, promoting professional recruitment standards and establishing effective oversight mechanisms.

“The task before Nigeria is not merely to celebrate the birth of State Police, but to ensure that it evolves into a professional, accountable, community‑driven institution capable of enhancing security without undermining democratic freedoms,” he said.

Ubani added that without strong institutions and grassroots structures, the country risks merely decentralizing existing security problems rather than solving them.