…wants NSCDC, FRSC merged to form a dept in NPF
In the face of widespread insecurity across Nigeria, from kidnapping to banditry and violent attacks, calls for the establishment of state police in the country have reached new heights.
But the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, believes Nigeria is not “mature” for the establishment of state-controlled police. Instead, he wants the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) merged to form a department in the Nigeria Police Force.
This is in contrast with former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, both of who backed the establishment of state police.
The three men, among many others, spoke at a national dialogue on state police organised by the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Abuja, with the theme ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria’.
The dialogue marked the beginning of deliberations on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (alteration) Bill 2023 (Establishment of State Police) sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and 13 others.
Egbetokun, who was represented by Ben Okolo, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, said Nigeria is not ready for a decentralised police force.
“It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force that Nigeria is yet to mature for the establishment of state-controlled police,” he said.
Recall that on February 15, the Federal Government set up a committee to explore the creation of state police, amid the spate of insecurity in the country.
On February 20, a bill to establish state police passed a second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill is designed to improve public safety and boost law enforcement in Nigeria by decentralising the police.
The proposal in the bill provides for state police alongside the federal police and outlines a constitutional framework for states that choose to establish and maintain their service.
Kalu, who chairs the House Constitution Review Committee, explained that the bill “aims to clarify the scope of the powers and responsibilities of the federal and state police, and to provide for their funding and oversight”.
The IGP said rather than create state police, the challenges in the way of effective policing in Nigeria should be addressed.
He listed some of the challenges as inadequate manpower, inadequate operational equipment such as vehicles, arms and ammunition, communication equipment, drones, aerial surveillance cameras, security surveillance helicopters, armoured vehicles, and inadequate training of personnel. He said these challenges have impacted negatively on the performance of police personnel.
According to the IGP, state police will be open to abuse of power by state political leadership and governors, who could use the police forces under their control for political or personal gain and compromise human rights and security, while noting there would also be a conflict of jurisdiction.
Egbetokun also recommended that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) should be merged to form a department in the Nigeria Police Force.
He further expressed that the recruitment of police personnel into the force should be increased by at least 30,000 annually to meet the minimum policing standard of the United Nations.
But former President Jonathan described state police as a non-negotiable entity that Nigeria must establish, saying the conversation must shift to the prevention of abuse by governors.
Jonathan, who was Nigeria’s president from 2010-2015, said even though governors often abuse institutions, the challenges were not sufficient to stop the creation of state police.
The former president said state police was wildly accepted by the delegates at the 2014 Confab.
“We can only end kidnapping and other forms of insecurity through the creation of state police,” he said.
On his part, Gaidam said a decentralised police force will help tackle rising insecurity in the country.
He also observed that while the State Police was essential for local security, it has the potential for political interference and human rights abuse.
“Establishment of state police is not without its demerits; one of them is political interference. Oversight and accountability are paramount and must be put in place to ensure the interference is reduced. An implementation roadmap is essential for successful operation,” he said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Deputy Speaker Kalu argued that the current security situation in Nigeria requires a multilayer approach to insecurity.
He stated that over N5 billion has been paid in ransoms to kidnappers, a figure that starkly exposes the alarming growth of this criminal enterprise in the country.
Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, had affirmed that it was through collaboration and a shared commitment to the common good that the country can develop policies and strategies that will enhance its security infrastructure.
Represented by Maj-Gen. Adekunle Ariyibi, the CDS said the need for a comprehensive and responsive security framework that includes the establishment of state police was undeniable.
“I encourage all of us to approach these deliberations with an open mind, to engage in constructive dialogue, and to consider the diverse perspectives that will be shared,” he said.
