State Policing and Constitutional Reform: Legislative Options for Addressing Nigeria’s Internal Security Crisis

Abstract

Nigeria’s centralised policing system has struggled to contain escalating internal security threats across its diverse regions. The concentration of policing powers at the federal level has limited responsiveness to local security dynamics, weakened intelligence flows, and overstretched federal institutions. Empirical studies on federal systems demonstrate that decentralised policing improves crime prevention, accountability, and public trust when supported by constitutional safeguards. Comparatively, federal systems such as Germany, Australia, and Ethiopia demonstrate that decentralised or shared policing frameworks can enhance effectiveness while preserving federal oversight. This brief examines the current state of Nigeria’s internal security architecture, identifies the structural and legal constraints, and outlines legislative options for introducing state policing without undermining national unity. It concludes with the following recommendations: i. Leveraging the ongoing constitutional reform process, the National Assembly may amend Section 214 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) to allow for a decentralised policing structure, where the states are constitutionally empowered to oversee policing activities at the state level for improved responsiveness to localised security threats and enhanced community trust; ii. In the same vein, the amendment should establish defined recruitment standards, operational protocols, funding formulas, and accountability structures for state Police Service Commissions as does the existing Police Service Commission; and iii. With state police being novel in the country, and for the fear of being weaponised by the state governors, the National Assembly may alternatively introduce legislation in support of a phased implementation of state policy in pilot states, say in 12 states, 2 per geopolitical zone. With this, lessons learnt can guide the broader implementation and reduce risks.