Femi Falana and Civil Society Leaders Demand Robust Regulatory Framework to Prevent Political Abuse of Proposed State Police

Femi Falana, Gani Adams, and Joe Ajaero call for a democratic and well-structured state police system to prevent political oppression and enhance security.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 10:03 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Daily Nigerian

The Call for Structural Guardrails in Decentralized Policing

A coalition of legal luminaries, rights activists, and labor leaders has intensified the call for a well-structured state police mechanism to address Nigeria’s growing security challenges. Speaking at the Fifth Yinka Odumakin Memorial Lecture in Ikeja, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana emphasized that while the shift toward state policing is necessary for true federalism, it carries a significant risk of misuse. According to Ibrahim Ramalan, Falana warned that without a clear, independent management framework, state governments might repurpose these agencies as instruments of political oppression. The lecture, themed around the viability of Nigerian democracy through restructuring, served as a platform for these leaders to demand a system that prioritizes the welfare of the common citizen over the interests of the ruling class.

Addressing the Potential for Political Weaponization

Femi Falana’s primary concern revolves around the historical tendency of state governments to use existing security apparatuses to target opposition figures and journalists. He argued that the establishment of state police must be accompanied by a "people-focused" restructuring to ensure that the beneficiaries are the public, not just the governors. Falana urged activists to move beyond merely discussing the problem and to begin organizing a system that prevents the executive branch from exercising unchecked control over local law enforcement. This sentiment was echoed by other participants who noted that a decentralized force is only effective if it remains neutral and professional.

Democratic Management and Technological Integration

Lanre Arogundade, President of the International Press Centre, further elaborated on the need for a democratic management model. He asserted that state police must be governed in a way that serves all citizens equally, regardless of their political or social standing. Arogundade also advised the government to look beyond personnel increases and invest heavily in science and technology to address insecurity. By integrating advanced surveillance and forensic tools, he believes the state police can become a modern, efficient force that relies on data rather than intimidation. This approach is intended to create a transparent security environment where accountability is built into the o...