Prosper Okoye
A committee set up by Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has proposed transferring at least 60 percent of the country’s police officers to new state-controlled forces under a planned decentralised policing system, according to a report submitted to lawmakers.
The recommendation, part of a broader framework for establishing state police services, comes as Africa’s most populous nation grapples with overstretched security forces. Nigeria, with about 200 million people, has roughly 370,000 police officers — about one officer for every 600 citizens, below the United Nations guideline of one officer per 450 people.
The seven-member committee presented its findings to the Senate committee reviewing the 1999 constitution, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
The report outlines a two-tier policing system comprising a Federal Police Service and 37 State Police Services across Nigeria’s states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelUnder the proposal, the federal service would retain about 40 percent of personnel to handle national security, terrorism and interstate crime, while the remaining 60 percent would be redeployed to state forces responsible for local policing, including violent crime and community safety.
The framework also suggests a voluntary transfer programme for officers moving to state services, along with financial incentives and guarantees on pensions. It further recommends creating a National Police Standards Board to oversee recruitment, training and accountability across both federal and state forces.
To address concerns that state governors could misuse police powers, the report proposes safeguards including independent state police commissions, legal penalties for unlawful orders and judicial oversight of politically motivated deployments.
The plan would require constitutional amendments, including changes to Section 214 to allow state police to operate alongside federal forces.
Security analysts have expressed mixed views on the proposals.
Former Department of State Services director Mike Ejiofor criticised the idea of transferring federal officers, arguing that state police should instead recruit and train their own personnel independently.
But Ndu Nwokolo of Nextier SPD said a national standards body could help address fears of political interference by ensuring oversight and uniform practices.
Other experts warned of potential funding gaps and coordination challenges between federal and state forces, particularly in handling cross-border crimes and ensuring consistent operational standards nationwide.
Meanwhile, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said lawmakers are working on a decentralised policing model designed to strengthen accountability and prevent abuse by political actors.
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Calls for state policing have grown in Nigeria amid persistent insecurity, with advocates arguing that a decentralised system could improve response times and local intelligence gathering, while critics fear it could deepen political control over law enforcement.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
