By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, former military head of state General Abdulsalam Abubakar, former President Good luck Jonathan and House of Representatives Speaker, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas were among dignitaries, who insisted that state police implementation in the country was no longer negotiable.

Tinubu stated this while declaring open a national dialogue on State Policing organized by the House of Representatives in Abuja on Monday.

Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima was full of praise for Nigeria’s House of Representatives for organizing the national dialogue, which had Pathways to Peace; Reimagining Policing in Nigeria as its theme.

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar was quite emphatic that traditional rulers must be incorporated in the state police system to play vital roles.

Former President Jonathan said he began the processes of state police at the 2014 conference and from reports he got from the committee, state police was going to work if the report was implemented.

He disclosed that state police was the panacea to the commercial kidnapping, which started in the Niger Delta in 2006.

 The former president said that in implementing state police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be rejigged to avoid using the system for political gains.

In his words, “The issue today is very critical. One thing is that we don’t need to debate on whether we should have state police or not. I think the matter has been concluded. The issue is the operations of the police.

“So if we are talking about state police, we must also rejig INEC and the police must not be used against or to the advantage of any political party.

“The issue of voting, the polling booths of INEC and the use of police during elections has to be reviewed by the National Assembly.

“Even in polling units in our country, this is the only country I visited that has isolated polling units.

“Most counties I go to observe elections, they have polling centres in a primary school or secondary school and within that polling centre they have five to 10 polling units within the centre. I just flew back from Senegal.

“You see the police are always at the gate. They don’t go into the compound. They don’t go even where voting takes place.

“The citizens are also disciplined enough not to behave in a way that would attract the police. We must find a way to make the use of police for elections very limited. Not what we hear today that security operatives have seized materials.

 “Could the state police for the riverine areas like the Niger Delta also play that role of coast guards? Could the ones in the boundary areas play the role of the national border force?

“This would surely help the country. We are not going to waste our time debating whether we should have state police or not.”

However, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun kicked against the plan insisting that the Nigeria police should be allowed to swallow the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as departments under it.

Egbetokun who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Ben Okoro insisted that the NSCDC and the FRSC were a duplication of the police.

The IGP said that Nigeria is not ripe for state police urging those calling for state police to work toward merging the NCDSC and the FRSC with the police for effectiveness.

He said the police are battling inadequate training as well as lack of adequate manpower.

He said most police barracks are dilapidated due to lack of maintenance and renovation.

“This has a negative impact on the performance of the policemen,” he said.

He added that state police would create avenues for state governor to use it to suppress the opposition in their states.

He said creating state police would also lead to the problem of jurisdiction, which would bring about conflicts of interest.

He added that state police would not be able to combat terrorism, kidnapping and banditry because they require enormous resources to those.

The Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa represented by Maj. Gen. Kunle Ariyibi said, “It is through collaboration and a shared commitment to the common good that we can develop policies and strategies that will enhance the security infrastructure of our dear nation.”

Musa said it is imperative to create a security framework that would be inclusive, responsive, and capable of safeguarding the rights and freedom of all Nigerians.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas urged stakeholders to provide a framework that would dispel the fear of abuse of state police by governors.

According to him, these concerns are not unfounded and must be addressed frontally, without bias or sentiment.

“This emphasises the need for robust frameworks that ensure accountability, transparency, and equitable service delivery across all states,” he said.

He said it is imperative to set stringent national standards, establish oversight bodies, and involve communities in the policing process.

According to him, Nigeria’s diversity, with over 300 ethnic groups and a range of geographic, economic, and social conditions require a policing model that is adaptable and sensitive to local contexts.

“As we explore the models of state policing that have been successful in other nations, we must be judicious in adapting these frameworks to fit our unique Nigerian context,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu said that the escalating security challenges in the country demand innovative solutions and candid discussions.

He said NASS recognised the gravity of the situation, adding that it is committed to exploring all viable options that would lead to a safer and more secure Nigeria for its citizens.

He said, since 2016, estimates suggest that over ₦5 billion has been paid in ransoms to kidnappers, saying the figure starkly exposed the alarming growth of this criminal enterprise in the country.

According to him, the 2024 Global Terrorism Index paints a concerning picture, ranking Nigeria fourth in Sub-Saharan Africa and eighth globally for countries most impacted by terrorism.

He said that the United Nations recommended police-to-citizen ratio of one police officer per 600 citizens, adding that Nigeria’s current reality falls far short of the benchmark.