AANI Pushes for State Police, Says Justice and Social Reorientation Key to Ending Insecurity
The Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) has called for urgent reforms to Nigeria’s security framework, advocating the establishment of State Police while stressing that justice, accountability, and societal orientation are essential for sustainable peace.
The call was a major outcome of AANI’s 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and National Colloquium held at the Muhammadu Buhari Conference Centre. The event, themed “State Police and Community Policing: Challenges, Options and Opportunities,” brought together top security officials, policymakers, and stakeholders.
The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, who served as Special Guest of Honour, reaffirmed the commitment of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges. He emphasized that beyond structural changes, the country must tackle underlying issues such as trust deficits and societal values.
Ajayi urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and grassroots actors to play active roles in maintaining security, describing it as a collective responsibility. He noted that justice remains central to national stability, stating that peace naturally follows where fairness and equity prevail.
He also described State Police as a legitimate tool for addressing local security threats and improving coordination among the various quasi-law enforcement bodies operating across states.
The event was chaired by Tijjani Bande and drew participation from key institutions including the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, security agencies, and representatives of state governments.
In his remarks, AANI President, Emmanuel Obi Okafor, described Nigeria’s security situation as critical, noting that the centralized policing system is overstretched and inconsistent with federal principles. He listed terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, farmers-herders clashes, and oil theft as persistent threats, worsened by poverty and unemployment.
Delivering the keynote address, Femi Mimiko highlighted the limitations of the country’s single-layer policing system and called for decentralization to improve efficiency and accountability. He, however, cautioned that concerns such as ethnic bias and abuse must be addressed through strong constitutional safeguards.
Participants at the colloquium noted that Nigeria is significantly under-policed, with about 371,800 officers and a police-to-population ratio of 1:740, far below the United Nations recommendation of 1:450. They identified intelligence gaps, weak public trust, corruption, and over-centralization as major drivers of insecurity, adding that reliance on the military for internal security is unsustainable.
The AGM endorsed an intelligence-driven hybrid policing model combining State Police with community policing structures. Key recommendations included constitutional amendments to devolve policing powers, clear operational boundaries between federal and state forces, improved training and coordination, and robust funding and accountability systems.
The association also emphasized a “whole-of-society” approach, noting that security challenges cannot be solved by force alone but require justice, leadership, and community engagement.
AANI called on the National Assembly to fast-track constitutional amendments to enable the reforms, stressing that lasting peace in Nigeria depends on fairness and the rule of law.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to promoting evidence-based policy solutions, expressing confidence that a well-regulated State Police system would enhance security responsiveness, boost public trust, and strengthen national unity.
