Former Federal Legislator, Senator Ayo Arise has thrown his weight behind the creation of state police, arguing that amending the Constitution to decentralise policing is both urgent and achievable in the face of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Saturday, Arise praised President Bola Tinubu’s long-standing advocacy for state policing, recalling that the President had championed the idea as far back as 2000 shortly after becoming governor, saying that localised policing remains the most effective way to deter crime before it escalates.
“I have to once again give kudos to our president, who is very much on top of the game of leadership in this country. As far back as the year 2000, maybe barely after a year of becoming governor of the state, the president had been on the topic of state policing.”
Drawing from his experience Arise explained that proximity to communities is central to effective policing.”As a matter of fact, the county police, that is, even city police, were more effective in terms of common crimes in the US But the city police actually is able to go within the city and move in such a way that, with a call. Immediately there is a call, you will see that the police will be in your residence within five minutes. And that can only be possible if they are very close to the areas of operation.”
“When a person, a strange person comes into any community, the local police, they are easily able to identify that’s a strange situation at hand, and they will put intelligence to work, because they’re local, they know everybody, they relate to everyone like a family.”
On the constitutional pathway, Arise said the key lies in amending Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution. “Once section 214 is amended, it will now go to the states for ratification. Of course, as you all know, we need two-thirds majority in the two houses for this to happen, At least 24 state assemblies would also need to approve the amendment.”
He dismissed fears that state police would eliminate federal policing, stressing that both systems would coexist. “The fact that you have state police does not completely erase the federal police. I believe that has been a major problem with some of our leaders in the police, because they couldn’t understand how they can easily give up all this enormous power, which invariably, at the end of the day, amounts to nothing.”
Cross-border crimes will be under the federal… In case if you rob a bank, that will be a federal crime. But things like ruthless murder is a state crime, Now, in terms of the security, in terms of the fear of whether the state government will use the state police to attack or intimidate opposition, I believe the same thing, same powers that the state police will have is what the federal police has now. And so, because we’ve been able to use the judiciary and a number of checks and balances to ensure that abuse is limited, it might not be totally eliminated.”
“The same powers that the state police will have is what the federal police has now,” he said, noting that judicial oversight, human rights groups, civilian commissions and technological tools such as body cameras and CCTV systems could limit abuse, The things that you do in office, if they’re criminal, you still have to answer to them.”
On implementation timelines, Arise expressed optimism that the National Assembly would act swiftly once a bill is formally introduced. “I believe security cannot wait another month, another year,” he said, though he cautioned that operational deployment would take months due to recruitment, training and equipment needs.”
On funding, he said states would require initial federal grants and subventions to kick-start their police systems. “What this security is doing to our country is far greater than any amount of debt that we can incure.”
He argued that security spending should be prioritised, even if it requires borrowing. “What this security is doing to our country is far greater than any amount of debt that we can incur,” he said, emphasising that improved security would ultimately stimulate development and economic stability.
“This is a problem of Nigerians. It’s not a problem of the president alone. It’s a problem for everybody.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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