By Chris Kwaja
Introduction
The primary purpose of the modern state is the provision of security. Without the capacity to protect lives, property, and public order, the legitimacy of the state itself is weakened. In Nigeria, persistent insecurity—manifested in banditry, insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, communal conflicts, armed robbery, and emerging urban crime—has reignited calls for the establishment of state police. The renewed legislative efforts to amend the Constitution and decentralize policing represent one of the most consequential governance reforms currently under consideration.
The debate, however, extends beyond the creation of another security institution. It raises fundamental questions about federalism, accountability, constitutional governance, resource allocation, and the nature of state authority. As Nigeria grapples with increasingly complex security threats, the question is no longer whether policing should evolve, but how such evolution can strengthen national security, while preserving democratic principles and constitutional safeguards.
Nigeria inherited a centralized police system that has remained largely unchanged despite the country’s transition to federal democracy. Section 214 of the Constitution establishes a single Nigeria Police Force and prohibits the establishment of other police forces except as authorized by the Constitution. Operational control ultimately rests with the Inspector-General of Police under the authority of the Federal Government.
This model reflected historical concerns during military rule, where centralized command was considered necessary to preserve national unity and prevent regional abuses. However, today’s Nigeria presents significantly different realities. Over 220 million people spread across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory; vast geographical diversity; highly localized security challenges; increasingly sophisticated criminal networks; and significant disparities in policing needs between rural and urban communities. A centralized command structure often struggles to respond rapidly and effectively to these varied security environments.
Policing as a Core Function of the State
The legitimacy and effectiveness of any state depend fundamentally on its ability to perform an indispensable function that no other institution can adequately provide. These function, commonly referred to as core state function, constitute the minimum responsibilities that every government must fulfill to ensure public order, protect citizens, uphold the rule of law, and create conditions for sustainable economic and social development.
Core state function is that responsibility that is essential to the existence, legitimacy, and effective operation of the state and cannot be permanently transferred to private entities without undermining public authority. In this context, a function qualifies as a core state function where it:
- Requires sovereign authority.
- Protects constitutional order.
- Ensures public security.
- Safeguards citizens’ rights.
- Maintains national unity and territorial integrity.
- Provides public goods that markets cannot efficiently deliver.
- Is fundamental to the rule of law and democratic governance.
Where the state fails to deliver on such a function, citizens resort to private security, vigilante groups, ethnic militias, or self-help mechanisms. Such developments weaken public confidence in state institutions and create fragmented systems of authority. Nigeria increasingly exhibits these characteristics. Across many states, community vigilantes, regional security outfits, and private security providers have emerged to fill perceived gaps left by the centrally controlled Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
While governments may collaborate with private actors in delivering policing related services, responsibility for these core functions remains non-transferable. Strengthening state capacity in these areas is essential for national stability, sustainable development, economic growth, and public confidence in government. In effect, a core state function cannot be relinquished because it is essential to sovereignty, constitutional governance, and public welfare.
Conclusion
The debate on state police presents Nigeria with an opportunity to modernize one of its most important governance institutions. The central question is not whether policing should remain exclusively federal or become entirely decentralized. Rather, the challenge is to design a policing architecture that reflects Nigeria’s federal character while safeguarding professionalism, accountability, and constitutional democracy.
As Nigeria confronts increasingly complex security threats, constitutional reform should seek a balanced approach that combines national coordination with local responsiveness. Properly designed, adequately funded, and effectively regulated, state police could become an important component of a more resilient, accountable, and citizen-centered security system. The ultimate objective should be the establishment of a sustainable policing system that is capable of protecting all Nigerians, while upholding the rule of law and the principles of democratic governance. The discharge of this duty by the state (federal and its sub-national constituents), underscores the centrality of policing as a core state function.
The author is a Professor of IRs at Modibbo Adama University, Yola
