Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has called for strong constitutional safeguards to prevent the proposed state police system from being misused by state governors for political purposes.
Speaking at the Building a National Consensus for State Police and National Security conference organised by ARISE News and THISDAY in Abuja, the lawmaker said decentralising policing should not create another avenue for political intimidation or weaken democratic institutions.
She stressed that any constitutional framework establishing state police must guarantee institutional independence, accountability, and protection of citizens’ rights.
According to Akpoti-Uduaghan, state police should serve the public rather than become an instrument of political oppression, adding that the rule of law must remain the foundation of the policing system.
The senator also identified sustainable funding as a key requirement for the success of state policing. She urged the Federal Government to establish a transparent financing framework to support intelligence gathering, personnel welfare, training, operational efficiency, and modern security infrastructure across the states.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further commended President Bola Tinubu for efforts to strengthen national security and praised the Inspector-General of Police for responding promptly to emerging security challenges, saying such actions help improve public confidence in Nigeria’s security system.
