Bar Association head backs state police, says local control boosts safety
Monday Ubani, Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association Electoral Committee, said Nigeria will be safer if local governments take charge of security, speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, June 24, 2026. His comments came a day after the Senate passed the State Police Bill on Wednesday, June 23, 2026, aiming to decentralise policing to tackle worsening insecurity nationwide.
Ubani argued that over‑centralised policing has failed to protect lives and property, and that local officials know every entry and exit point in their areas, enabling them to work with state and federal security agencies to protect communities. He commended the current administration and the 10th National Assembly for taking the historic step of creating state police, which he believes will strengthen security across the country.
The bill, now approved by the Senate, proposes to establish police forces under state governments rather than a single national force. Details on funding, recruitment, and jurisdictional boundaries have not yet been released. Readers should watch how state governments plan to structure and finance these forces, and consider what the shift means for local safety, potential jurisdictional conflicts, and accountability.