By ifeoma Onyekachi

Legal experts, media professionals, labour leaders and civil society activists have called for a well-defined structure and proper management framework if state police is to be established in Nigeria.

Speaking at the Fifth Yinka Odumakin Memorial Lecture held in Ikeja, Lagos, human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana warned that state police could be misused if clear operational guidelines and accountability mechanisms are not put in place.

The memorial lecture, themed “Can Nigeria’s Democracy Work Without Restructuring?”, brought together activists, journalists and labour leaders who discussed governance, restructuring and national security.

Falana emphasised that restructuring Nigeria’s governance system was essential for true federalism and better security management. He warned that some state governments had previously used security agencies to intimidate political opponents and journalists, stressing that state police could suffer the same fate if not properly regulated.

He also urged Nigerians and political stakeholders to focus on building strong democratic institutions rather than manipulating the electoral process, adding that national development required organisation and collective action in the interest of citizens.

Also speaking at the event, the President of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, echoed similar concerns, warning that state police could become an instrument of oppression if not structured to serve the people rather than political interests.

Arogundade stressed that any state policing system must be democratic, transparent and people-centred, noting that the primary objective should be the protection of citizens and not political control.

He further advised governments at all levels to invest more in science and technology as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.

In his remarks, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams also supported the creation of state police but insisted that the operational framework must be carefully designed to serve the interests of the people.

Adams stated that traditional institutions and community groups were willing to collaborate with governments to improve security, adding that the best way to honour the late activist Yinka Odumakin was to remain committed to justice, democracy and good governance.

Similarly, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, called for the establishment of state police as part of broader security reforms in the country.

The event was attended by several civil society activists and rights campaigners, including Omoyele Sowore, Olumide Fusika, Agba Jalingo and Richard Akinola, among others.

Participants at the lecture generally agreed that while state police could help address Nigeria’s security challenges, strong legal frameworks, accountability systems and democratic oversight would be necessary to prevent abuse and ensure the system serves the people effectively.