Quick Summary:
Constitutional lawyer Justice Osai Ahiakwo cautions that without insulating the IGP from politics, state police reforms may fail to improve security.
Constitutional lawyer and public affairs commentator, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, has warned that moves toward establishing state-controlled policing could fail unless the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) is insulated from political interference.
His remarks followed the resignation of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the appointment of AIG Tunji Disu as acting IGP by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu had earlier met with state governors, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to creating state police as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
“Leadership Change Alone Won’t Fix Structural Weaknesses”
In a statement issued in Calabar, Ahiakwo said that while leadership change at the top of the police hierarchy was noteworthy, it would not automatically resolve deep-rooted institutional weaknesses.
He urged the President to prioritise merit, discipline, and operational independence in confirming a substantive IGP.
He added that the IGP must remain accountable to oversight bodies such as the Police Service Commission and the National Assembly, warning that without such balance, neither federal nor state policing models could guarantee sustainable security.
Institutional, Not Structural, Crisis
Ahiakwo argued that Nigeria’s security challenges are institutional rather than structural, cautioning against treating state police as a political concession or a response to sectional demands.
He stressed that any reform must respect constitutional order, national unity, and the integrity of command and control mechanisms.
Under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), policing remains on the Exclusive Legislative List, giving the Federal Government authority over law enforcement — a design meant to prevent abuse of coercive power by sub-national actors.
Strengthening the Existing Framework
The lawyer advised that instead of dismantling the current system, the government should strengthen it through professionalism, adequate funding, and clear lines of authority.
He noted that the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 already provides a modern legal framework promoting accountability, community policing, and improved welfare, but lamented weak implementation and inconsistent political will.
Drawing comparisons with the United States, Germany, and Japan, Ahiakwo said that structural reforms alone would not solve Nigeria’s security problems.
