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By Lawrence Agbo
A former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Marvel Akpoyibo, has called for stronger constitutional provisions to guide the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria.
Akpoyibo said the constitutional amendment process must provide clear rules on the structure, funding, command and oversight of state police to ensure the proposed system achieves its security objectives.
Speaking on *Politics Today*, the retired police chief said the success of state police would depend largely on the strength of the legal framework backing it.
“The Constitution must be clear about how state police will operate, who controls it and what safeguards will be in place,” he said.
He said lawmakers must address possible conflicts between state authorities and the Federal Government, particularly on command structure and operational jurisdiction.
Akpoyibo also stressed the need for provisions that would prevent governors or other political actors from using state police against opponents, journalists, critics or citizens.
“There must be safeguards to ensure that the police are not turned into tools for political persecution,” he said.
The former DIG added that funding should be clearly defined in the proposed legal framework to ensure state commands are properly equipped, trained and capable of responding to local security threats.
“Creating state police is not enough. The system must have adequate funding, professional standards and accountability mechanisms,” he said.
He urged lawmakers to ensure the constitutional review includes strong oversight provisions and consequences for abuse of power.
According to Akpoyibo, a carefully structured state police system could improve security coverage in communities, but warned that weak laws and political interference could defeat the purpose of the reform.
