Security experts have renewed calls for urgent reform of Nigeria’s policing system, citing recent killings in Kaduna State and persistent insurgency in the North-East as evidence of the limitations of the current centralized structure.
The position is contained in a communique issued at the end of the 46th Annual General Meeting of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), made available to reporters on Monday.
The communique noted that Nigeria continues to grapple with complex security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and violent conflicts, especially in the North-East and North-West regions.
It observed that the current centralized policing framework under the Nigeria Police Force is overstretched, with about 371,800 personnel serving a population of over 200 million. This results in a police-to-population ratio of 1:740, far below the United Nations recommended ratio of 1:450.
The experts highlighted that the centralized structure has led to slow decision-making, inadequate local response, and operational gaps. They noted that despite governors being designated as Chief Security Officers, they lack effective control over police commands in their states.
The communique added that military deployments for internal security duties have further stretched the Armed Forces, underscoring the need for a more sustainable and locally responsive policing system.
It also identified weak intelligence implementation, poor funding, inadequate logistics, corruption, and public distrust as major challenges affecting policing effectiveness nationwide.
The experts warned that while concerns exist over the potential misuse of state police by political actors, these risks could be mitigated through strong legal frameworks, accountability mechanisms, and clear operational guidelines.
They therefore advocated a hybrid policing model that integrates state police and community policing, while retaining the Nigeria Police Force as the central coordinating authority.
The communique recommended constitutional amendments to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, stressing that such reforms would enhance intelligence gathering, improve response times, and strengthen community trust.
