Port Harcourt – Dr Chyma Anthony, a police reform expert, has called for the establishment of regional police rather than state police.
Anthony told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Monday that a regional police structure remains a more balanced approach to addressing insecurity and advancing federalism.
NAN reports that President Bola Tinubu recently urged the National Assembly to accelerate constitutional amendments to the 1999 Constitution to enable the creation of state police forces.
Tinubu argued that decentralising the police would bring policing closer to the people and strengthen Nigeria’s response to escalating insecurity across the country.
However, Anthony contended that while state-level policing might address certain federalism imbalances, it poses significant risks within Nigeria’s current socio-political context and could deepen divisions rather than enhance security.
He said the creation of 37 independent police formations, including one for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), could result in border disputes, multiple checkpoints, extortion and harassment for travellers.
“In addition, resource-poor states may produce under-equipped and poorly trained police units, while governors could deploy such forces for political vendettas, ethnic targeting and electoral manipulation,” he said.
“Inconsistent policies would undermine national uniformity and accountability; jurisdictional clashes and intelligence silos could widen security gaps, while localised control might exacerbate ethnic suspicions.”
Anthony argued that regional police present a more viable alternative, offering devolution that responds to regional crime patterns, cultures and dynamics while preserving national cohesion.
According to him, structuring policing around Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones – North-West, North-East, North Central, South-East, South-West and South-South – would be a more balanced and secure option.
He noted that regional policing is practised in countries such as Canada, England and Wales, Germany, India and South Africa.
“These countries operate provincial, regional or state policing systems with strong federal oversight to ensure uniformity and efficient use of resources.
“In South Africa’s hybrid SAPS model, the National Commissioner leads Provincial Commissioners who manage operations across the country’s nine provinces, ensuring consistency while allowing regional adaptation.
“Provincial executives provide input, while central authority curbs abuse and maintains standards,” he explained.
Supporting his position, Anthony said the achievements of the South-West vigilante group, Amotekun, since its establishment in 2020 demonstrate the potential of regional policing.
He added, however, that for a regional police structure to succeed, the Police Service Commission (PSC) must be reformed to enhance transparency and accountability.
Anthony proposed the establishment of a National Police Service Commission to replace the current Police Service Commission (PSC).
“The commission would provide federal oversight and ensure national standards in recruitment, promotion and discipline, including biannual certification reviews of subnational forces,” he said.
He also recommended moving policing to the Concurrent List, adding that direct federal funding and independent oversight would institutionalise the strengths observed in the Amotekun model, while enforcing professionalism and independence.
He said the framework should establish six regional police headquarters for zone-specific operations, appoint regional police commanders to ensure unified command and federal liaison, and create sub-units at state, divisional and local levels.
“There should be direct federal allocations for funding and training to ensure independence from state governors, while the new police commission would uphold national standards, provide oversight and prevent abuses.
“This approach would advance genuine federalism by devolving power in a measured manner and promoting equity and accountability,” Anthony said. (NAN)
