Legal practitioner, Liborous Oshoma has expressed support for the creation of state police in Nigeria, describing it as a necessary response to the country’s growing security challenges.
However, he warned that governors should not be granted absolute control over the proposed security structure.
Speaking on the issue, Oshoma said concerns about potential abuse of power by governors remain a major obstacle to the establishment of state police.
He noted that experiences with state electoral commissions have raised fears that governors could use state police to intimidate political opponents and influence elections.
According to him, “the powers to appoint, discipline, and fund state police officers should not rest solely with governors”.
He advocated the creation of an independent body responsible for overseeing recruitment, discipline, salaries, and operational standards to ensure accountability and prevent political interference.
Oshoma argued that while governors are recognised as chief security officers of their states, this does not mean security agencies should be completely answerable to them, stressing that excessive concentration of authority could lead to abuse and undermine public confidence in the system.
He further suggested the establishment of a State Police Commission comprising representatives from civil society organisations, professional bodies, the media, and other stakeholders, rather than individuals appointed exclusively by state governors.
While acknowledging the fears surrounding state policing, Oshoma maintained that worsening insecurity across the country has strengthened the case for decentralised policing.
He said local police forces would improve intelligence gathering, enhance rapid response to threats, and strengthen community-based security efforts.
He also noted that implementing state police would require constitutional amendments, particularly to provisions that currently recognise only the Nigeria Police Force as the country’s official policing institution.
Oshoma concluded by urging lawmakers and stakeholders to carefully design safeguards that would prevent abuse while ensuring that state police effectively address Nigeria’s security challenges
