The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, has said that establishing state police would improve community security, strengthen federalism and promote local accountability.
Ike spoke on Tuesday at the 2nd Annual Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps. The lecture was themed “The Imperative for State Police: Securing Communities, Strengthening Federalism.”
She said the centralised policing system had left many states and communities waiting too long for security responses.
“Policing from a single national centre has left many states and communities waiting for responses that arrive most times too late,” Ike said.
According to her, local police forces would be better placed to understand and respond to the peculiar security challenges of their areas. She said state police could respond faster to threats, prevent conflicts from escalating and build stronger relationships with local communities.
Ike noted that Nigeria’s diverse security realities called for tailored policing strategies. She said the needs of riverine communities in the Niger Delta differ from those of metropolitan neighbourhoods in Lagos or farming communities in the Middle Belt.
She added that creating state police would ease the pressure on the Nigeria Police Force and allow for more specialised, regionally appropriate policing.
The NUJ FCT chairman, however, warned that state police must not be set up without adequate safeguards, constitutional clarity and effective oversight.
She called for a constitutional amendment and clear legislation defining the jurisdiction, limits and relationship between state and federal police formations. She also advocated national standards for recruitment, training and discipline, as well as independent oversight bodies and civilian review mechanisms with powers to investigate abuses and enforce accountability.
Ike urged state governments to ensure sustainable funding for policing and to put strong anti-corruption measures in place for procurement, recruitment and payroll management.
She stressed the need for shared intelligence systems, joint task forces and mutual-aid protocols, noting that criminal activities often cross state boundaries.
“State police must be rooted in respect for human rights and community-policing principles so that they protect citizens rather than intimidate them,” she said.
The NUJ chairman urged the media and civil society to investigate and explain state police proposals, hold lawmakers and government officials accountable, and amplify citizens’ concerns and experiences.
She said the debate should be inclusive, evidence-based and transparent, rather than a momentary political conversation.
“Our goal is not merely a change of structure; it is a change that delivers safety, trust and justice for Nigerians,” she said.
Ike added that, if implemented with constitutional rigour, strong oversight, adequate resources and respect for human rights, state police could become a meaningful instrument for securing communities and deepening Nigeria’s federal democracy.
