Retired Lieutenant-General Abdulrahman Dambazau has stated that the establishment of state police in Nigeria will only be effective if the system is strictly professionalised and shielded from political control by state governors.
Dambazau, a former Chief of Army Staff, warned that allowing governors to exercise direct control over state police structures could undermine neutrality, accountability, and public trust in the security system. According to him, professionalism and institutional independence must remain central to any framework designed for decentralised policing.
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The retired military officer noted that while calls for state police have intensified due to growing insecurity across the country, the success of such a system depends on clear operational guidelines, constitutional safeguards, and mechanisms that prevent political interference.
Debates around state policing have continued to dominate national discussions, with supporters arguing that decentralised security structures would improve intelligence gathering, local response capacity, and community-based policing. Critics, however, have repeatedly raised concerns about possible abuse of power and the risk of political intimidation if governors gain excessive influence over security agencies.
Dambazau stressed that effective policing requires discipline, professionalism, and adherence to the rule of law, rather than loyalty to political office holders. He added that any proposed structure must prioritise national stability, human rights protection, and public confidence.
His comments add to ongoing conversations among policymakers, security experts, and civil society groups over the future of policing reforms and internal security management in Nigeria.
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