State Police: Nigeria must draw inspiration from America, other nations, says Akpabio

Senate president, Godswill Akpabio said on Monday, April 22, that in considering the establishment of state police in the country, Nigeria must draw inspiration and lessons from the United States of America and other nations that have successfully implemented multi-level policing across the world.

Speaking at a national dialogue on state policing organised by the House of Representatives, the Senate president who was represented by his deputy, Senator Barau Jibrin said the Nigerian nation was today at a crowded road where the decisions we make will shape the destiny of the nation.

Akpabio said: “Today, we have the power to transform our security architecture and create a Nigeria where every citizen feels safe and protected, regardless of his or her status, religion, tribe, location or background.

“The concept of state police has been a topic of debate for many years. It is a complex issue with no easy answers. But today, courtesy of the House of Representatives, we have the opportunity to engage in a national dialogue, to listen to the voices of our fellow citizens, and to forge a path towards a more secure Nigeria. Let us seize this opportunity with open hearts and open minds. Let us listen to one another, learn from one another, and work together to find common ground.”

He said further that “President Tinubu did not only come to steady the ship of state, he came to adjust the sails and steer the ship of state through rough and fair weather, to the right direction and the right destination. He is known for rearranging the sails, and this is exactly what he did in agreeing that modalities should be worked out for us to have state police.

“In working out modalities for the state police and the security of our nation, we must not forget that security is not a privilege, but a fundamental right of every Nigerian. It is our duty to ensure that this right is upheld, that justice is served, and that the rule of law prevails.

“We must build a security architecture that is robust, transparent, and accountable. If we are to set up state police departments, we must ensure that they are free from the shackles of politics, religious extremism, tribalism, and ethnicism. We must empower them to serve and protect, without fear or favor.”

In considering state Police, he said, Nigeria must draw inspiration from the United States of America, a nation that has successfully implemented a system of state and federal policing, saying “Let us learn from their experiences and adapt their models to suit our unique socio-political context.

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“Let us ensure that our state police forces work in harmony with their federal counterparts, collaborating to fight crime, preserve peace, and safeguard our democracy. In the USA, the FBI, the federal police body enforces federal laws and the state police departments enforce state laws. The FBI also investigates inter-state crimes.

“We must draw the lines because to have functional state police we must have a strong federal police. But let us never forget that the power of the state police should never be used as a tool of oppression. Let us ensure that political powers cannot manipulate the state police to silence dissent or target their enemies.

 “Let us ensure that the influential do not exert undue influence over the state. police, and that justice is blind to wealth, power, politics, or status. Let us build a system that is fair, just, and equitable for all.