Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Nigerian Bar Association President, Olisa Agbakoba, has warned that proposed state police structures in Nigeria could become tools of political oppression if not backed by broader constitutional safeguards and institutional reforms.
In a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Agbakoba welcomed President Bola Tinubu’s move to send an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking amendment of Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution to enable the creation of state police.
He described the initiative as a positive step that could improve security by decentralising policing and bringing law enforcement closer to communities.
However, Agbakoba cautioned that without strong institutional protections, state police could suffer the same fate as some existing state-controlled structures, which he said often fall under executive influence.
He argued that Nigeria’s governance debate should go beyond policing to include wider devolution of powers to states and local governments, listing areas such as licensing, prisons, marriage registration, arbitration, and business regulation as functions that could be more efficiently managed subnationally.
The senior lawyer warned that “devolution without institutional protection” risks turning reform into executive domination, adding that independent institutions must be constitutionally shielded from political interference.
He cited South Africa as an example, pointing to constitutional safeguards that protect institutions such as the Public Protector, Human Rights Commission, Electoral Commission, and Auditor General from executive control.
Agbakoba also proposed that key Nigerian institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, and National Judicial Council, should be constitutionally insulated with guaranteed funding and independence.
He further recommended a tripartite system involving governors, the Police Service Commission, and State Houses of Assembly in appointing and removing heads of state police to prevent political misuse.
Agbakoba urged the Federal Government and lawmakers to carefully consider these reforms as discussions on restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture continue.
