Strengthening Institutions: The Key to Successful State Police Implementation

By Rosemary Okoduwa

The Concerned Edo Citizens Forum welcomes President Tinubu’s initiative to create state police in Nigeria, but with significant reservations and concerns. While we acknowledge the potential benefits of state police in enhancing security, our research reveals that Nigeria’s institutions are too weak to effectively manage and oversee such a system.

In a statement signed by the convener, Comrade Roy Oribhabor, implementing state police without strengthening institutions could lead to chaos, manipulation, oppression, and collapse. For instance, the creation of state electoral commissions has already compromised the democratic process within local government administrations, reducing elections to mere formalities and undermining performance in local government management. Some governors are increasingly acting like emperors, prioritizing selfish agendas over development and public welfare.

We urge President Tinubu not to rush into implementing state police without thorough evaluation and institutional reforms. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Strengthening institutions is crucial to ensuring that state police serve the interests of all Nigerians, rather than perpetuating existing power imbalances.

To effectively tackle insecurity, we recommend that the president invests in Food Production, encourage farming activities to reduce poverty and insecurity. Demonstrates Sincerity in Fighting Poverty, Prioritize poverty reduction initiatives to improve living standards, build robust institutions that can manage and oversee state police effectively