Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, has assured Nigerians that concerns surrounding the proposed establishment of state police will be carefully addressed as part of ongoing efforts to reform the country’s policing structure.
Barau gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving members of the Nigeria Police Force steering committee tasked with developing a framework for the creation of state police. The committee paid a courtesy visit to his office to brief him on its work.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by Barau’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir.
The panel, inaugurated by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, on March 4, was mandated to design a workable structure that could guide the establishment of state police across the country.
Speaking during the meeting, Barau, who also chairs the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, urged the committee to ensure that any proposed structure promotes accountability while preventing potential abuse by political actors.
According to him, the framework must be carefully designed to strengthen public safety and enhance national security.
“You must, most importantly, work on a structure to create a robust public safety mechanism and engender a secure nation,” Barau said.
He noted that during the Senate’s public hearings on amendments to the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, many Nigerians expressed reservations about the idea of decentralising policing powers to the states.
“During public hearings of the Senate on the amendments of the 1999 Constitution, Nigerians raised their concerns and fears about the establishment of state police. We should create a system that allays their fears,” he added.
Barau also commended the IG for establishing the committee, describing the move as consistent with the broader security reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Olu Ogunsakin, briefed the Deputy Senate President on the panel’s mandate and progress so far. He also requested input from the Senate to strengthen the committee’s recommendations.
Barau reiterated that the committee’s assignment is to produce a comprehensive framework that could guide the possible establishment of state police in Nigeria.
The debate over state police has intensified in recent years as the country grapples with worsening insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and communal violence in several regions.
Supporters of the proposal argue that decentralising policing would improve response time and allow state governments to address local security challenges more effectively.
However, critics warn that such a system could be misused by state governments for political purposes.
As part of efforts to broaden participation in the constitutional amendment process, the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution recently organised zonal public hearings across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Stakeholders used the sessions to present their views on several proposals, including the creation of state and community police structures.
