Senior lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, has endorsed the proposed State Police Bill, while stressing that effective safeguards must be built into the legislation to prevent abuse of power.
Agbakoba said the creation of state police could strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture by bringing law enforcement closer to local communities and improving responses to state-specific security challenges. However, he warned that decentralizing policing without adequate oversight could expose citizens to political interference and violations of fundamental rights.
According to him, any framework establishing state police must include clear accountability mechanisms, independent oversight, and legal protections to ensure the agencies operate professionally and within the rule of law.
He argued that the absence of institutional checks and balances could allow state police forces to be misused by political authorities, potentially transforming them into tools of intimidation and oppression rather than instruments for maintaining public safety.
Agbakoba’s comments come as discussions on the proposed State Police Bill continue, with supporters arguing that decentralized policing would improve intelligence gathering, community engagement, and the overall effectiveness of security operations. Critics, however, have raised concerns about possible political abuse, human rights violations, and uneven standards across states.
The former NBA president maintained that the success of any state policing system would depend not only on constitutional backing but also on transparent governance, operational independence, and respect for the rights of citizens.
The debate over state police remains one of Nigeria’s most significant constitutional and security discussions, as policymakers seek long-term solutions to the country’s evolving security challenges.
Agbakoba’s intervention adds to growing calls for reforms that balance the need for improved security with strong legal safeguards capable of protecting democratic values, accountability, and the rule of law.