Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has stated that concerns about the potential hijack of state police by governors should not prevent its establishment, arguing that the security benefits for Nigerians are the “greater good.”
The National Assembly is currently amending the 1999 constitution, with the state police bill being a key proposal under consideration. The move has received backing from President Bola Tinubu and several governors, who believe it will help tackle the nation’s prolonged security challenges, including banditry and kidnappings.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, explained that decentralizing the current police structure is essential to improve security response times. “On the state police bill before the parliament, we are thinking about the response time of policing in Nigeria, which at the moment is below the global standard,” he said.
He elaborated that a dual system would clarify responsibilities. “Just [as] the constitution is clear on what is on the concurrent and exclusive lists, certain subject matters will now be handled by the state and federal police, respectively.”
While acknowledging the analysts’ fears that governors could weaponize state police against political opponents, Kalu urged a focus on the broader objective. “There may be fears of hijacking it, but we cannot deny the majority of Nigerians the security of lives and property that we promised them as a government.”
He concluded by framing the choice as a simple one: “So, we are saying which one should we go for? The greater good or the fear of the minor threat? I think we should go for the greater good so that the good in the majority will suppress the threat in the minority.”
On a separate issue, Kalu addressed the demand for diaspora voting, cautioning that Nigeria must first strengthen its local electoral system. “Rome was not built in a day. It will happen, but we must first put our house in order.”
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