Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has expressed deep concerns over the dysfunctionality of the Nigeria Police amid increasing calls for a more efficient and responsive policing system.
Speaking at the 2024 Distinguished Personality Lecture Series, co-organized by the Department of Political Science and the Institute of Legislative Studies at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Bamidele argued that the current structure of the police force is inherently flawed and incapable of addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
In his role as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Bamidele emphasized that any police structure not aligned with Nigeria’s federal realities would fail to effectively tackle the root causes of insecurity. He stated, “The police have not been set up properly to succeed in this nation. Effective policing in Nigeria is almost impossible without fundamental changes.”
The lecture, titled “Constitutional Amendment and the Political Dynamics of State Police in Nigeria,” was chaired by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau I. Jibrin, represented by Deputy Senate Leader Senator Oyelola Ashiru. Other notable attendees included Senator Saliu Mustapha, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture; Senator Sadiq Umar, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment; Senator Akintunde Yunus, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs; Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin; and Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.
Bamidele provided a comprehensive analysis of the socio-economic and political factors contributing to the police force’s dysfunctionality. He also proposed several solutions, highlighting the need for a decentralized police model to address Nigeria’s security issues more effectively. He argued that deploying the armed forces for internal law and order, contrary to their constitutional mandate, undermines Nigeria’s image as a stable democracy.
He further criticized the frequent use of state-level vigilante groups and security outfits without a national legal framework, stating, “The challenges facing the Nigeria Police are numerous. How the police are organized, managed, governed, and funded determines their ability to protect the life and property of Nigerians.”
Bamidele acknowledged the efforts of the Nigeria Police leadership in enforcing discipline and removing bad officers but noted that operational misconduct remains prevalent. This, he said, undermines the force’s capacity to address widespread insecurity. “The constraints faced by the police are often used as excuses for various misconducts and unprofessional behaviors by many officers,” he observed.
To remedy these issues, Bamidele advocated for a decentralized police model, suggesting it as a vital step towards tackling the myriad security challenges that undermine Nigeria’s internal cohesion and deter investors.
