Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has cautioned against the potential abuse of state police by state governments, insisting that any constitutional framework establishing state policing must incorporate robust safeguards to prevent political manipulation and protect citizens’ fundamental rights.
The Senator, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, made the remarks on Thursday while serving as a panelist at the ongoing “Building a National Consensus for State Police and National Security” conference organised by ARISE News and THISDAY in Abuja.
Addressing a gathering of policymakers, security experts, public office holders and other critical stakeholders, Senator Natasha observed that while the establishment of state police has become a recurring subject of national discourse, its implementation must not create opportunities for political intimidation or executive overreach at the sub-national level.
She cautioned that, without adequate constitutional safeguards and institutional independence, state police could be weaponised against political opponents and ordinary citizens by state governments.
“State police should never become an instrument of political oppression or executive intimidation. We must build a policing system that serves the people, protects democracy and remains accountable to the rule of law,” she said.
The lawmaker identified sustainable funding as one of the most critical pillars for the success of any state policing framework, stressing that establishing new security institutions without a viable financial structure would undermine their effectiveness.
According to her, the Federal Government must prioritise the development of a transparent and sustainable funding model capable of supporting operational efficiency, personnel welfare, training, intelligence gathering and modern security infrastructure across the states.
“Funding is one of the most important aspects the Federal Government must address. Without adequate and sustainable financing, state police will struggle to deliver on their constitutional responsibilities,” she stated.
While advocating comprehensive policing reforms, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to strengthening national security. She also applauded the Inspector-General of Police for his prompt response to emerging security threats across the country.
She noted that the responsiveness of the Nigeria Police leadership to security concerns has contributed significantly to ongoing efforts to restore public confidence in the nation’s security architecture.
“I commend Mr President and the current Inspector-General of Police for their prompt responses and decisive actions on security issues. Such responsiveness strengthens public confidence and reinforces our collective commitment to securing Nigeria,” she added.
The high-level conference brought together leading voices from government, the security sector, civil society, academia and the private sector to deliberate on the future of policing in Nigeria. Participants examined constitutional reforms, operational structures, funding mechanisms and accountability frameworks required to establish an effective and accountable state police system.
Her intervention further enriched the growing national conversation on balancing the imperative of decentralising policing with the need to preserve democratic accountability, institutional professionalism and the rule of law.
The conference is expected to conclude with recommendations aimed at building a broad national consensus on the establishment of a state police system capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges while strengthening democratic governance and protecting citizens’ constitutional rights.
