By Ijeoma Agbafo
The Labour Party presidential candidate, Dr Chibuzo Okereke, has expressed support for the establishment of state police, saying the system should be fully decentralised to ensure effective service delivery.
Okereke made the position known in an interview on Thursday in Abuja, saying necessary safeguards should be put in place to prevent abuse. He, however, argued that legislation on state police should not be driven by fear that governors might misuse the system.
The presidential candidate said the focus should instead be on creating an organised democratic structure that would enable the police to deploy modern technology, improve security and provide accountable services. He said state police would strengthen efforts to protect lives and property if properly structured and regulated.
Okereke said Nigeria’s policing system was gradually collapsing, noting that residents in many rural communities had to contribute resources to sustain police stations and their operations. He attributed the situation to the centralised policing structure, where funding, command directives and other administrative controls remained largely under the Federal Government.
He urged stakeholders to review and strengthen the country’s policing system, saying the establishment of state police, with appropriate safeguards and oversight mechanisms, would enable authorities to respond more effectively to security challenges and improve the protection of citizens.
