State Police: The Inconvenient Truth Nigeria: The Need for State Police?
The clamour for the creation of State Police in Nigeria, has over the years gathered omentum. Initially viewed with some measure of suspicion and apprehension, the idea of State policing has since gained wide acceptance and followership, especially the fa
The issue of State Police, is a highly controversial one indeed; that is, the issue of the desirability or otherwise of State Police in Nigeria. I think this is one of the issues, that has been so greatly debated in Nigeria today. Somebody once said that Nigerians like controversies. They love debates.
It is my contention that any argument against the establishment of State Police in Nigeria, having regard to our myriad of security challenges, the structural and systemic inadequacies of the present monolithic Police system, is nothing but a “convenient untruth”. That State Police has become inevitable today in Nigeria, is the truth, no matter how inconvenient.
Some Causes of Insecurity It was Martin Luther King that said the true test of a man, is not where he stands in the time of comfort, but where he stands in the time of controversy and trouble. Nigerian leaders must take their stand on the issue and do the needful, so that Nigeria can move forward. There is a consensus of opinion, that the Nigerian State today, is no longer enjoying the best of times in terms of security of lives and property in the nation. The situation may become worse, unless something urgent and compelling is done, with regard to the massive unemployment of Nigerian youths. Graduates are roaming the streets in hundreds of thousands, seeking earnestly for jobs that are non-existent. They are largely idle, despite their acquired skills. The Nigerian youths who are said to be the leaders of tomorrow, have become victims of a situation they did not create.
There is the insurgency of Boko Haram, in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. We hear of bombing of institutions and properties. Reading about killings and maiming of people in the National Daily Newspapers, is no longer news to anyone. In some other parts of Nigeria, kidnapping has become the order of the day. No one seems to be safe anywhere. Even in the South West, where admittedly there is a resemblance of peace and safety, one can only sleep with his or her eyes closed, at his or her own peril.
Over and above this, the economic and political systems that our leaders are practicing, are continuously widening the gap between the rich and the poor. While a very few percentage of the population are showing off their wealth through the acquisition of private jets and armoured cars, the preponderance of the majority of the nation’s population, are living in abject poverty struggling to have three square meals a day. These are criminal breeding factors, and they are present with us, untreated and unaddressed.
In a paper delivered by Chief Wole Olanipekun OFR, SAN titled “The Law as an Endangered Specie”, at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies recently, the Learned Senior Advocate, captured the helplessness and hopelessness of the security situation in Nigeria.
Even though the security situation appears to be more worrisome presently, there has always been serious concern for State security, effective maintenance of law and order, and the safety and security of lives and property of Nigerians. The challenge posed by insecurity, has been one of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria.
The Nigeria Police Force, which is the main security organ in Nigeria for maintenance of law and order, was established by Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. The Section provides that;
“There shall be a police force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force, and subject to the provisions of this section no other police shall be established for the Federation or any part thereof.”
Section 4 of the Police Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 states the statutory responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force to be;
“the prevention and detection of crime, apprehension of offenders, preservation of law and order, protection of lives and properties and enforcement of all laws and regulations”
The fundamental question is, how well has the Nigerian Police force been able to live up to this bidding? Let me also ask, can one in all truth and sincerity, say conveniently that the insecurity graphically described above has not overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, as it is presently constituted as a centralised and monolithic Police force? Does the Nigerian Police as it is today, have the capacity to bail Nigeria and Nigerians out of the current situation that we are in today? Is the Nigerian Police force, living up to our expectations? Do members of the public, still have confidence and trust in the ability of the Nigeria Police to protect them and their properties?
I understand that there are about 400,000 Police men and women in Nigeria, policing 180 Million people. What average is that? About 1 Police man to 450 Nigerians. I was also made to understand that about 24 million people populate Lagos State, with an allocation of about 31,000 Police officers and men, resulting into the ratio of 1 Police Officer to 700
Lagosians. Is this workable? It is important to recognise that, the determinant of law and order in the society, is the capacity of the law enforcement agent to enforce the law; a function that is the primary responsibility of the Police force.
In spite of the provisions of Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, have the Nigerian people and even Government, not admitted the failure of the present monolithic system by their subtle actions? Let me give a few observed acts of the authorities.
I. The Federal Government, has give nap provaland authority to the Civil Service Defence Corps to carry arms. It was not like that before, apparently to supplement the shortfall and compliment the inadequacies of the Police force.
II. The Federal Government, has awarded contracts for the protection of oil pipe lines in Nigeria to Militant Organisations, not only in the Niger Delta, but also reportedly to the Odua People’s Congress (OPC).
III.Do we also recognise today, that where and when you experience some level of efficient performance by the Police, it is largely due to the grace of the State Governments of where they operate? It is common knowledge, that State Governments provide equipment, operational vehicles, as well as incentives such as an enhanced insurance cover to the Police within their territorial influence and power. We witness this on the television every now and then. In a nutshell, one can contend that the states now collaborate
“THERE IS A CONSENSUS OF OPINION, THAT THE NIGERIAN STATE TODAY, IS NO LONGER ENJOYING THE BEST OF TIMES TERMS OF SECURITY OF LIVES PROPERTY IN THE NATION”