Nigeria’s push towards decentralised policing gained fresh attention on Wednesday as Senate Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwebonyi outlined how federal and state police forces would operate under a proposed state policing framework.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Nwebonyi said the federal police would retain responsibility for investigating and prosecuting federal offences, while state police formations would focus on addressing crimes and security challenges within their respective states.
According to the senator, the arrangement is designed to improve security response times and strengthen law enforcement at the grassroots level by allowing states to tackle local criminal activities more effectively.
The debate over state policing has intensified in recent years amid growing concerns over insecurity across Nigeria, with advocates arguing that a decentralised system would enhance intelligence gathering and community-based policing.
However, critics have expressed concerns over potential political interference and abuse of power by state governments.
Nwebonyi maintained that a clear division of responsibilities between federal and state police authorities would help ensure efficiency and accountability in the country’s security architecture.
