Security experts have renewed calls for urgent reform of Nigeria’s policing system, citing recent killings in Kaduna State and the persistent insurgency in the North-East as evidence of the limitations of the current centralised structure.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 46th Annual General Meeting of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) on Monday.
The communiqué noted that Nigeria continues to face complex and widespread security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and violent conflicts, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions.
It observed that the existing centralised policing framework under the Nigeria Police Force is overstretched, with about 371,800 personnel serving a population exceeding 200 million.
According to the experts, this translates to a police-to-population ratio of approximately 1:740, significantly below the United Nations recommended ratio of 1:450.
The communiqué stated that the current structure has resulted in slow decision-making, inadequate local response and operational gaps. It added that although state governors are designated as Chief Security Officers, they lack effective control over police commands in their respective states.
It further noted that the deployment of the military for internal security operations across many states has overstretched the Armed Forces, highlighting the need for a more sustainable and locally responsive policing system.
The experts also identified weak intelligence implementation, poor funding, inadequate logistics, corruption and public distrust as key factors undermining policing effectiveness nationwide.
While acknowledging concerns about the potential misuse of state police by political actors, the communiqué emphasised that such risks could be mitigated through strong legal frameworks, accountability mechanisms and clear operational guidelines.
The experts, therefore, advocated a hybrid policing model that integrates state and community policing, while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the central coordinating authority.
They also recommended constitutional amendments to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, noting that such reforms would enhance intelligence gathering, improve response time and strengthen community trust.
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