A former Commissioner of Police, Balarebe Sule (retd.), has expressed reservations over the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria, warning that the initiative could face serious challenges, including inadequate funding, corruption, and political interference by state governors.
Sule made the remarks in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar while reacting to the Senate’s passage of the executive bill seeking to establish state police across the country. ADVERTISEMENT While acknowledging that the creation of state police could significantly reduce crime and criminality, the retired police chief maintained that Nigeria is not yet prepared for such a policing system.
According to him, one of the biggest obstacles would be the inability of many state governments to adequately finance and sustain their police formations. “I can very well tell you that many states will not have the resources to equip and pay remuneration for those to be employed to function effectively,” Sule said.
He also warned that differences in the financial capacity of states could create disparities in policing standards across the federation. “In addition, there will be no uniformity in the operations of the personnel across the federation. You don’t expect an officer who is not well paid and equipped to perform optimally,” he stated.
Sule argued that poor welfare and delayed salaries could expose officers to corrupt practices. “This is where corruption will arise. Definitely, when you don’t pay them well and as at when due, they will be exposed to corruption,” he added.
The retired police commissioner further expressed concerns that governors could misuse state police for political purposes despite any safeguards that may be put in place. “Again, I also fear that state police will be subject to abuse by the governors who pay them irrespective of the checks and balances,” he said.
Despite his concerns, Sule acknowledged that state police could improve security because officers recruited from local communities would have better knowledge of the terrain and the people.
“Recruitment will be done in such a way that only the indigenous people will be posted to their area. In your locality, you practically know everyone and where crimes are likely to be committed,” he explained.
However, he insisted that the country still lacks the level of institutional development needed for the system to succeed.
“Having said this, I believe that Nigeria is not yet ripe for state police simply for the fact that we are not as exposed as the countries where this is practised,” he said.
The Senate passed the executive bill for the creation of state police on Wednesday after it was transmitted to the National Assembly as part of ongoing constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening internal security across the country. The report was first published by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).