The inability to curb crime raises concerns on the need for state policing.
The surging crime rate that has devastated the country has raised poignant questions about the nature of federalism that is practiced. In every other federal ambience, state policing plays an immensely valuable role in their peacekeeping. Decentralization of the policing structure among the different states in the country have been continually tipped to play a significant role in salvaging the widespread crimes and violence that has overwhelmed the country; as grassroots policing will be efficiently enacted where the state is responsible for its policing.
However, the consistent omission of state policing in Nigeria’s constitution has been regarded as being erroneous. This oversight was made over forty years ago and since, the country’s security system have shown immense inconsistencies at curbing the growing devastations that continuously affect the country. Right now, the cases of ISWAP, political thugs, Boko Haram bandits, kidnappings and overt terrorism have sunk the security structure of the country, with citizens living in perpetual fear of being attacked.
Enacting state police will improve the security apparatus in the country.
While these security issues continue to cripple our faith in the policing system that is in place, it is important to note that the bill for state policing could still have been enacted, if the representatives at the helm of government really considered its importance in eliminating huge terrorizing demonstrations. Enacting the state policing will immensely improve the security apparatus in the country, as evident with the creation of the native police, AKODA, during the country’s first republic.
Section 106 (4) of the 1964 constitution recognized the establishment of regional policing, where it stated that the police commissioner of a region is stipulated to comply with the directives of the premier of that region as regards the maintenance and overt security of public safety and order within the region. This illustrates the efficacy of state or regional policing in ensuring peacekeeping and compliance of law and order when enacted. Thus, at a time when the country is battling its worst security crisis since the 1967-1970 civil war, the introduction of state policing will seem to play a pivotal role in curbing these security problems.
Ironsi’s suspension of the 1963 constitution expedited the loss of state policing.
Tracing the past presidential constitutions in regards to the framing of state policing, General Aguiyi Ironsi, the first military head of state, on January 1, 1966, did suspend the 1963 constitution which expedited the death of regional policing, an action that was further promulgated by Military governor of the Northern state in 1967, where he pronounced that regional policing was a thing of the past. All through General Yakubu Gowon’s tenure as head of state (1966-1975), there was no reference to the reenactment of the regional police.
This serves as a background for General Muritala Muhammad’s constitutional drafting committee, which was announced in 1975. The committee, headed by Chief. Alade Williams saw to establishing subcommittees that included public services including the Armed Forces and the police. The likes of Col. Pedro Martins, Alhaji Ahmed Talib, Dr. O. Idris, Mr. Makele and Chief Ekanem Ita were also members of the subcommittee. Since this inception, the country’s policing system has been federal.
The consistent omission of state policing have been immensely erroneous.
However, the country continues to be overwhelmed by criminal attacks from every region and while citizens continue to live in fear of being victims of these recurrent attacks, it becomes absolutely clear, to the fact that the consistent omission of state policing from the constitution have been immensely erroneous. The introduction of state policing will poignantly improve the country’s security system to efficiently implement direct measures for tackling crimes that exist within the different states and on the bigger spectrum, ensure peacekeeping in the country.
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Nigeria really need state police in this critical period,they level of insecurity in Nigeria has already go out of hand.Governors in there respective state should be able to give order to the security agents in there state to do the needful to curb the insecurity.
In as much as I’m an advocate for state policing but Nigeria is not yet ready for such,because most of the governor of each state will turn such power to benefit them,I believe most of their political opponents will be oppressed with it.
State police will be well useful due to our insecurity in the country if their is state police and they are well equipped wit good arms it will serve as security for each state rather than depending on federal force every time if it is done I hope it doesn’t been misused also but our security in the country need to improve is this is done it is a new improve step
Despite our faith in the police has crumbled, as they’ve proven to be unprofessional and ineffective, state policing seems like a good idea. Every state being in control of their police department would help each governor do as much as they can to help their state. Compared to depending on the federal government whose decision and policies might not be satisfactory attimes to handling security.
State policing policy or bill should be passed in the National Assembly. We need state policing to assist the police force. We don’t have enough policemen to police and secure the country. We really need to look into this vehemently and the Federal government should begin to reconsider their stance on the matter.
I don’t know why the Federal Government are say no to state police. FG want to control everything thing. What a country Nigeria
The federal government wants to control it all we actually need the state police involved we don’t have enough police men out there and the few we have aren’t working
The idea of having individual states controlling their police force is well received by the citizens of Nigeria. A country with multi diverse people should understand why this is a relevant factor. State govt must have the police powers in their state and not from the federal. Federal policing as said in the article was implemented to disrupt the integrity of the country. I strongly believed that Nigeria today would be a great nation if policing is restructured. Advanced country have mostly 3 different levels of policing sectors. Federal, State, and municipal or community policing. With technology and intelligent and competent people serving in the police force, Nigeria would be secure and safe country for all citizens and visitors alike.
The introduction of state policing will work well for us because they will be able to cover deeper parts of the people’s environment.
There are good sides and bad sides of state policing. The establishment of state police forces is an invitation to secession and disintegration of this country. There are divisive elements within and without the States and bitter rivalry between the States, religious and political intolerance in the country. let’s take a look at this properly before deciding on state policing
We need state policing to help reduce crime. It has consistently been argued, that policing is essentially a local service and as most crime is local, we need a local police force. We all know that some crimes are indeed local.
There are many reasons why we should have state police force. One of them is that state Governor who is the chief security officer of the State ought to have the control of police stationed in the State. It is alleged that the Federal Government misuse the police now to the extent that the Nigeria Police lack the cooperation and trust from members of the public.
I’m totally against state policing because in the past where Local Government Police and Native Authority Police were used to subvert the democratic process. The state police forces, in the past, were used and manipulated by unscrupulous politicians to intimidate, prosecute and suppress perceived political opponents and enemies.
In general view, state policing will help mitigate the rates at which crimes are committed, with this there will be community police stationed every corner putting out all kind of crime and safeguarding the people. With this people we will all feel safe and live out of fear.
Those who advocate for state police have a propensity not to be explicit about what it is that they are requesting most of the time. They will not be able to determine if the existing structure is adequately fitted to its functions until they clearly understand what they are requesting.
Since the government has failed to protect its citizen, decentralizing the police will be the best way.
With this, the state government will be responsible for the security of its people.
However, there is still contention on the approval.
The lack of a National Police Force is denoted by the term “State Police.” It entails the establishment of a police force that is subordinate to and accountable to the community, which will help improve our security here.
I hope it is known that the concept of state police is tied to the question of who controls the contingents of police stationed in the States, and if that person is incompetent, then policing in the country will still be poor.
If we employ this in Naija, it will indicate that the President would not have any direct dealings with the states regarding the upkeep of law and order. Instead, it would fall under the purview of the governors of the various states, which may work out well for us.
Policing is fundamentally a service that is provided on a local level, and because the majority of crime occurs on a local level, we require a local police force; the state police are our most excellent option for making this a reality.
The vast majority of significant crimes, including as terrorism, drug and human trafficking, money laundering, robbery, and burglary, take place outside of the local area. They operate on a national and international scale, so the state police cannot compete with them if we intend to employ them in Nigeria.
Detecting criminal activity in any setting requires local expertise, which state police are in a better position to supply; therefore, I have no problem with our engaging state police.
If state policing is activated and efficiently structured, it will aid in reviving the security for the country starting from each state instead of dependent on federal force, which will be quite valuable considering the level of our national insecurity.
State policing seems like a good idea looking at how ineffective and unprofessional the police has proven to be. We need state policing to assist the police force. We need state policing to help reduce crime rate in the country..at least to build people’s confidence in them.
State Policing is highly required to curb the high rate of crime in the country. The State police are familiar with the terrain of the state because they belong to the state and are capable to protect lives and properties of the people residing within the state. It is high time that the bill for state policing passed in law rather than ignore it before things get out of hand.
The urgency for the need of state policing in every part of the country can never be overemphasize. Now more than ever before the reasons why the passage of the bill should be done is already steering at us. The banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and killing by Fulani herdsmen are now occuring in every part of the state. Government should please pass the bill to ensure safety of lives and properties.