The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned that creating state police will not stop the country’s security crisis unless Nigeria first builds strong institutions to support the new policing system.
The party said it supports state police as part of constitutional reform but argued that passing a law without proper planning will not solve the problems of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.
The ADC in a statement issued on 26 June by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the Federal Government must strengthen the justice system, intelligence agencies, correctional services and police oversight before introducing state police.
The party said recruitment, training, funding, command structures and independent supervision cannot be put in place within a short time.
“What we are witnessing is a hurried response to a worsening security crisis, not the careful institutional planning required to build a functional, accountable, and effective policing system,” the statement said.
The ADC also said terrorists, kidnappers and bandits would not stop their attacks while new policing structures are being created.
It warned that treating state police as a quick answer could create fresh problems if proper checks are not put in place.
The party asked what measures would stop state police from being used for political intimidation. It also questioned how recruitment, discipline, funding and deployment would be supervised.
The ADC said the debate on state police is not new because Nigerians have discussed the idea for many years.
It argued that the present administration should not present the proposal as an immediate answer to insecurity since the reform would take time before Nigerians see its benefits.
The party also faulted what it described as the speed of the proposed constitutional amendment. It said a reform that would change Nigeria’s policing system should involve wider public consultation before going through the National Assembly.
The statement said, “Passing a law is only the beginning, and probably the easiest part, of a complex process.”
The ADC also warned against ignoring reforms within the Nigeria Police Force. It said the federal police would still handle national security, terrorism, interstate crimes and intelligence duties even if state police becomes law.
The party said creating another police structure without fixing the weaknesses of the existing force could simply produce another institution with the same problems.
The ADC restated its support for a policing system that combines federal, state and community policing with clear responsibilities and national standards.
It also said effective security depends on functioning courts, professional prosecution, modern correctional centres, forensic services, technology and proper intelligence coordination.
The party said it would continue to support security reforms that are carefully planned but would oppose any effort to treat state police as a quick political solution to Nigeria’s security challenges.