NNPP Cautions Federal Government Against Rushing State Police in Nigeria
Opposition party warns a rushed rollout of state-controlled police could worsen insecurity and create constitutional gaps.
By Source Reporters Newsdesk
Sun, 19 July 2026 · 1 min read
ABUJA, Nigeria — The New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) has cautioned the Federal Government against rushing the establishment of state police, Punch Newspapers reported on Sunday.
The opposition party warned that a hurried rollout of state-controlled police forces could worsen insecurity and create constitutional ambiguities, according to the report. It urged a structured, consensus-driven process before any decentralisation of policing powers.
State police has been a recurring demand by several state governors and opposition figures amid persistent banditry, kidnappings and communal violence. Supporters say local forces would respond faster to threats; critics argue the reform must rest on a clear constitutional footing to avoid fragmenting command and control.
The NNPP's position adds to a widening national debate over decentralising policing, which remains vested in the federal government under Nigeria's 1999 Constitution. Any change requires amendment by the National Assembly and approval by the country's state assemblies.
For Nigeria's 36 states, the dispute centres on whether decentralised forces would improve security or stretch already thin resources — a question that mirrors debates in other federal systems over balancing local accountability with national coordination.
Source: Punch Newspapers, 19 Jul 2026 (via Google News).
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