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State Police, How Desirable?

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12 years ago

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The on-going National Conference, last Thursday, ap
proved the establishment  of state police to strengthen security in the states. the state police, when created by states that desire and can finance them, are to complement teh efforts of the Nigerian Police Force.
What do Port Harcourt residents think about this development?  A few of them aired their views to our Chief Correspondent, Calista Ezeaku. Our photographer, Ibioye Diama captured their images

Mr Suowonale Nima (Civil Servant)
Creating State police will mean creating more problems in the country, because there will be Federal Police and state police. Anybody can use the police to intimidate others. There is no way state police and federal police can work hand in hand. There is bound to be confusion. So, I think they should forget the issue of state police. Let the Nigerian Police Force carry on with the duty of policing the country.

Livingstone Nator(Engineer)
There are two sides to the issue of the state police. Establishing state police will help in the security of our people, especially those in the grassroots. But when you look at the other side of  it, creating state police where the Federal government will not be totally in control of it, the politicians will highjack it and misuse it. They will use the police to oppress their opponents.
Apart from this, state police is good. The policemen will be people from that particular state who understand the language and the culture of the people.
However, I think state police can work better with the establishment of vigilante groups. The state government should be involved in the activities of the vigilante groups, try to empower them. The state police should work hand and hand with the vigilante groups who will be able to detect when a strange fellow comes into a community and find out his mission. The growing insecurity in this country has made it imperative that every body must be involved in the security of our communities. Everybody must be security conscious. Security is not the job of the policemen alone. We must help them to succeed by giving them vital information.

Miss Sarah Okpuibo (public Servant)
Establishment of state police is a good idea because of the security situation in our country now. I think states should go ahead and establish their own police force to beef up security in various states. The Federal police has been trying but the joint effort of the state and federal police will certainly yield more positive results. As it is presently, the number of policemen in the country is to minimal to cater for the security needs of the entire country. But if states can create their own police the number will increase and that will mean better security for the states and the entire country.
No doubt, going by what has been happening in our country, especially in this political era, politicians might want to use the state police as thugs, but this can only be possible when the head of the police force and the policemen want the politicians to use them. If they are not willingly to be used, no body can force them.
Anonymities. For me, I welcome the idea of the creation of state police, lets see if there will be any difference between federal police and the state police. The agitation has been on for some time now, so let’s give it a try. How many states do you think can properly finance state police? Look at even TIMARIV we have in this state. For over six months they have not been paid. The same thing applies to other states. So, it is not just establishing state police but making sure that it is adequately funded. If the policemen are not properly funded, you might just be creating more security and social problems for the states and the country at large.

Mr Ezinwo Iheanyi (publisher)
It’s okay. As we have heard, it is not a general recommendation per say, but for states that can afford it. And that implies that to a large extent, each federating is independent and should be able to have their own police and some other institutions of government that can enhance the administration of justice. In our own society, especially those of us who were born after independence, we have not seen state police in operation. Ordinarily, one will say it’s not a bad idea. At last it will help the communities to be properly policed. But the fear has to do with the attitude of the average Nigerian politician, the tendency for the winner to take all. If Mr A happens to be the governor, he will chase the political opponents all over the place with baseless charges. But I don’t think it will be wrong to give it a trial, especially if it is backed by law with checks and balances. So that any person who feels his or her right is violated can seek redress and also obtain it.
A lot of people have talked about the imperative of state police. I think it will be a nice thing if we can have a pilot programme in states like Lagos , Rivers, Kano and maybe Enugu States. Let’s have a kind of an experimentation to see how it goes.
But as usually, every idea will have its own pros and cons. But I’m tempted to accept the idea. We should try it. We can make some mistakes but with time there will be an improvement and we will be better for it.
The National Conference recommended state police for only those states that can finance it. In other words it is not going to be the responsibility of the federal government to finance them. If my own idea of a police force is any thing to go by, that means the state police will have their own guns and ammunitions. Eheee! There are a lot of issues a involved oo if you look at it critically. Yes, it is a nice idea but I don’t think is should be a priority at this stage of our development where states, regions are agitating for self determination. Where there is a lot mistrust all over the places. Some are agitating that Nigeria should be divided and allthat.
Yes, the idea of state police is not a bad one but I will suggest that we keep it in view in interim. Let some other serious security challenges be properly addressed before we talk about state police.
Let me also advise that each state government should encourage the communities to have vigilante groups to a kind man surveillance in the respective communities rather than have a central police. Communities should be supported by state governments to have vigilante. At the end of the day, it will also be very good for the states.

Chief Jude Nwoka (Lecturer)
Saying that any state who desire and can finance it should go ahead and establish state police is not a better option. It should be a constitutional matter, uniform in all states. Security should not politicised. If the states that have the apparatus, that have the money are allowed to have their own police, those in authority will compromise it and security should not be compromised.
The federal government on its own cannot even fund the police. Institutions, states must assist in funding the police particularly now that the country is facing serious security challenges, security is a thing for all.
The state authorities will use the states police for their own advantage. Governors will like to use the police to achieve their own selfish interests. It could also be a means of siphoning the public purse. I think care must be taken to avoid a paralled force and contravening the constitution.
If I may ask, what is happening to other para-military agencies like Civil Defence and others? Why not empower them, put in money and materials to allow them perform security roles? Why not encourage our traditional rulers and chiefs to form vigilante groups and support them? Yes, we already have community police but it is not working. Local Government Chairmen are not doing what they are supposed to do. Because of institutionalised corruption in the country, local government chairmen are not committed to fighting crime. They have security votes which are never accounted for. We can make use of the vigilante groups, give them vehicles, gadget and use them purely for security purposes not for political patronage. If the local government chairmen who are given security votes can spend part of this money on the vigilante groups, they will be more effective and we all will benefit from that.
So for me, what we need now is how to strengthen and support the existing Nigerian Police Force and the para-military forces. State police will be counter productive, it will be undermining maximum security, those in power will recruit those on their camps and use them to fight their opponents.
Most importantly, security is not for government alone. Everybody should be involved.

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Opinion

Kudos  Gov Fubara

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7 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Please permit me to use this medium to appreciate our able governor, Siminalayi Fubara for the inauguration of the 14.2-kilometre Obodhi–Ozochi Road in Ahoada-East Local Government Area.  This inauguration marks a significant milestone in the history of our communities and deserves commendation. We, the people of Ozochi, are particularly happy because this project has brought long-awaited relief after years of isolation and hardship.
The expression of our traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Eze Prince Ike Ehie, JP, during the inauguration captured the joy of our people.  He said, “our isolation is over.”  That reflects the profound impact of this road on daily life, economic activities, and social integration of the people of Ozochi and other neighbouring communities. The road will no doubt ease transportation, improve access to markets and healthcare, and strengthen links between Ahoada, Omoku, and other parts of Rivers State.
The people of Ahoada, Omoku, and indeed Rivers State as a whole are grateful to our dear governor for this laudable achievement and wish him many more successful years in office. We pray that God endows him with more wisdom and strength to continue to pilot the affairs of the state for the benefit of all. As citizens, we should rally behind the governor and support his development agenda. Our politicians and stakeholders should embrace peace and cooperation, as no meaningful progress can be achieved in an atmosphere of conflict. Sustainable development in the state can only thrive where peace prevails.
Samuel Ebiye
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Opinion

… And It Came To Pass

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7 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Quote:“Leadership is not measured by how hard one strikes back, but by how steady one remains under provocation.”
Tell it  in Rivers State, publish it  in the streets of Port Harcourt, so  the daughters of the State could rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph and know that Fubara is not vindictive”. And it came to pass that Rivers State emerged from one of the most delicate chapters in its political journey, the period of emergency rule that spanned from March 18 to September 18, 2025. It was a season that tested institutions, strained loyalties, and exposed the fragile balance between power and principle. During that time, the suspended Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara DSSRS, was widely believed to have suffered not only political setbacks but personal betrayal, allegedly from some top civil servants within the state apparatus. These were individuals expected to uphold neutrality and professionalism, yet were accused in public opinion of taking sides against the very government they served.
As the emergency rule ended and Governor Fubara resumed office, expectations were shaped less by policy and more by emotion. Many assumed that revenge would quietly find expression through governance. The loudest suspicion centered on the 2025 Christmas bonus of ?100,000 traditionally paid to each worker. The thinking was simple and cynical: a wounded governor would surely withhold goodwill. Some voices even mocked workers  openly hoping that the governor would refuse to pay the bonus. To them, denial of the bonus would serve as proof of political strength and justified retaliation. In reality, such thinking revealed a troubling desire to see governance reduced to personal vendetta. Yet,  it came to pass, the governor chose a path that confounded suspicion. Against all expectations, the 2025 Christmas bonus was paid.
That single decision quietly but firmly reframed the narrative. It showed a leader focused on governance rather than grudges, on institutional continuity rather than emotional satisfaction. The payment was not a favor, nor was it a concession; it was a statement that public administration must rise above personal injury. By honoring the bonus, Governor Fubara demonstrated that leadership is not measured by how hard one strikes back, but by how steady one remains under provocation. He made it clear that workers’ welfare would not become collateral damage in political disagreements. This action also served as a moral rebuke to those who celebrated division and hoped for punishment. Governance is not validated by the suffering of workers, nor is leadership strengthened by withholding entitlements. At the same time, the issue of alleged sycophancy and betrayal within the civil service cannot be brushed aside. If proven, such conduct deserves firm, lawful, and institutional correction. Civil servants are bound by duty to the state, not to political conspiracies or shifting loyalties.
However, justice must never be confused with revenge. The strength of governance lies in correcting wrongs without destroying the system itself. Governor Fubara’s restraint suggested an understanding that the future of Rivers State mattered more than settling scores. For workers, this moment carried an important lesson. Celebration should be rooted in good governance, not in the expectation of another’s downfall. Rejoicing in rumors of denial or punishment undermines the very stability that protects workers’ welfare. Public service thrives where professionalism, mutual respect, and accountability are upheld. Pettiness, gossip, and political scheming only weaken institutions and erode trust. History often remembers leaders not for the crises they inherit, but for the character they display in response. In paying the 2025 Christmas bonus, Governor Fubara chose legacy over impulse, maturity over malice.
And so, it came to pass that focus defeated revenge, governance triumphed over bitterness, and Rivers State was reminded that true leadership is proven when restraint is expected least but delivered most. Beyond the symbolism of the Christmas bonus lies a deeper question about the kind of political culture Rivers State intends to cultivate in the years ahead. Periods of emergency rule, anywhere in the world, often leave behind residues of suspicion, fear, and silent realignments. Institutions do not emerge untouched; individuals recalibrate loyalties, some out of conviction, others out of self-preservation. What distinguishes stable democracies from fragile ones is not the absence of such moments, but the discipline with which leadership manages their aftermath. River.
King Onunwor
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Opinion

That Withdrawal of Police   Orderlies  From VIPs

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7 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Quote:”Balancing VIP security with public safety remains a tightrope walk in a country where the majority of citizens are still under-protected.”
The Presidential announcement on the removal of police orderlies from persons in authority and their relations  ( Very Important Persons ) last month came as a relief to many Nigerians who felt deprived    of one major  role of government ; security of lives and property.The higher  population of Nigerians  missed needed security because the VIPs and the VVIPs kept  retinue of Police Officers  totalling over 100 ,000 to  themselves and their family members as if they are all that matter  while some  communities under attack of terrorists  have no single unit of  police station located there in. While many hailed the announcement , some said perhaps the government has just woken up to her major responsibility of securing the lives and property of all  citizens while many expressed indifference on the note that it may be one of those pronouncements which come only in words but no action .Many keep their fingers crossed watching how it will play out , how Mr President  will  go about the implementation of the seemingly dicey  policy .
Benjamin Franklin  said “well said is better than well done ”  It is sufficient today to say that many Nigerians including me are still waiting and watching to see  how well  and how long this  return  of the Police service to the ordinary people will go . Wishing hopes will not be crashed ,  It  is note worthy, that  the recent complaints by the VIPs of being exposed to attacks  may in a way affect the action on implementation. Recently, at Senate plenary , another worrisome  angle came up as Senator Abdul Ningi  coming through a motion    disclosed that he had only one police officer attached to him ( his office ) and that  the officer was recalled the week before following  Mr President’s directive  . Senator Ningi said the withdrawal exposed him to high risks but underscored the angle that while his orderly  was recalled , many other politicians , men  and women in authority, business concerns   foreigners  and even children of some  VIPs are still enjoying retinue of police protection ( officially attached to them ).
 It’s note  worthy also that the Deputy Senate President , Distinguished Senator Jibrin Barau,  who presided  over  the session revealed that the  leadership of both chambers are already in discussion with President Tinubu on the need  to exempt  the law makers  from the new policy .  Senator Ningi may not be  wrong . After all he emphasized he is okay  provided that the removal of the Police Orderlies be done across board . Senator Barau noted that talks are on  over the issue of law makers’    in line with international practice . Further details from the Presidency  noted  that   Presiding officers  will retain their  police officers ,  others would have Civil Defense  officers ( NSCDC) as orderlies while  any other VIP who feels he or she deserves personal police protection should get clearance from  his office . In the midst of all  issues weighing in on the proper implementation , it becomes necessary  to bear in mind that  the decision  hinges on  the realization that Nigeria has peculiar security issues (of kidnappings, banditry, and terrorism.) and that  majority of Nigerians   are under protected.
More so, that if well  implemented, Police officers will focus on core duties; even as 30,000 new police officers are to  recruited to enhance security .That implementation  must be made in a  way that leaves no room.for selective  treatment loss of confidence  and  controversies.  Looking at previous attempts of  implementation  of this policy  gives faint hope  as several  attempts consistently failed . Former  IGPs like Tafa Balogun (2003), Ogbonnaya Onovo (2009), and Ibrahim Idris (2018) tried  the policy but all  failed due to political resistance from various angles. All the failed attempts  were tied to lack of political will  mostly due to the fact that the directives came from police chiefs, not the president. Selective Enforcement was another killer to the policy  as  partial implementation  met  resistance   and   later  reversal . Egbetokun (2023) and Adamu (2020) saw minimal impact.
Further more entrenched corruption in the system saw  Politicians and VIPs quietly regain police escorts due to ‘transactional economics”and pressure. Worse still the mindset of the  police officers  withdrawn didn’t help the policy Underpaid police prioritize VIP duties for extra benefits. Many wish President Tinubu’s move can  break this cycle.  As at today, he  still  insists the move is non-negotiable while stressing collaboration with states to upgrade training facilities. As citizens look forward to  success of the policy  without undue exposure of both sides, balancing VIP security with public safety remains a tightrope walk. Talk fades ; action echoes.  How the Presidency  implements this policy.  has  much to tell on the governments stand on national / community  security , choice of priority and the ability to   stand uncomprised . The known  goal is clear:  The outcome is  not yet certain.  Fingers crossed , we await . Definitely , time will tell.
By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi.
s State stood at such a crossroads in September 2025. The temptation to rule with a long memory and a heavy hand was real. Yet, the choice made signaled a preference for healing over hardening. Leadership after crisis demands more than administrative competence; it requires moral clarity.
 Governor Fubara’s decision reminded the state that authority is not best exercised through silent punishment or selective generosity. Rather, it is strengthened when rules remain rules, irrespective of personal injury. By keeping faith with workers, the government preserved an essential firewall between politics and public service. That firewall, once breached, turns governance into a battlefield where livelihoods become weapons. Rivers State narrowly avoided that descent. In doing so, it affirmed that institutions must outlive tempers, and governance must not mirror the bitterness of political seasons. This moment also invites sober introspection within the civil service itself. Allegations of partisanship, if left unresolved, corrode professionalism and weaken public confidence. A civil service that drifts into political camps loses its moral authority and operational effectiveness.
Therefore, reform, where necessary, should be guided by due process, transparency, and institutional review—not whispers, witch-hunts, or mob verdicts. Accountability strengthens systems when it is fair; it destroys them when it is arbitrary. The restraint shown by the executive places a corresponding burden on administrative leadership to restore discipline, neutrality, and pride in public service. For the wider political class and the commentariat, the episode serves as a caution against normalizing cruelty as strategy. The eagerness with which some anticipated workers’ suffering revealed a dangerous appetite for scorched-earth politics. When governance becomes a spectator sport where pain is cheered and deprivation is weaponized, society inches toward moral exhaustion. Rivers State has seen enough turbulence to know that stability is not sustained by triumphalism, but by restraint.
The lesson is simple yet profound: power is fleeting, but institutions endure; leaders pass, but precedents remain. In the end, the payment of the 2025 Christmas bonus was more than a fiscal act—it was a civic statement. It told workers they were not expendable. It told political actors that revenge would not be policy. And it told the state that maturity in leadership is not weakness, but strength under control. In a climate where many expected fire, restraint prevailed; where bitterness was predicted, balance emerged. Thus, Rivers State was offered a rare reminder that governance, at its best, is an act of discipline, and leadership, at its highest, is the courage to rise above provocation.
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