Nigeria Police Not Properly Set Up To Succeed – Says Senate Leader

The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has expressed his disappointment with the current state of the Nigeria Police, highlighting its lack of proper foundation for success in the nation.

Bamidele made this remark in response to the growing need for a police force that is both effective and responsive.

Bamidele, who also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, further noted that a police system that does not align with the realities of Nigeria’s federal structure would be unable to tackle the security issues the country is facing effectively.

He delivered these comments during the 2024 Distinguished Personality Lecture Series, a collaboration between the Department of Political Science and the Institute of Legislative Studies at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

The lecture, titled “Constitutional Amendment and the Political Dynamics of State Police in Nigeria,” was moderated by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, with Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, serving as his representative.

The event featured speakers including the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Saliu Mustapha; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, Senator Sadiq Umar; Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Akintunde Yunus; Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), and Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

During the session, Bamidele analyzed the various socio-economic and political factors contributing to the dysfunctionality of the Nigeria Police and proposed solutions to the challenges of policing in the country.

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Bamidele criticized the continuous deployment of the armed forces without adhering to the guidelines set forth in the 1999 Constitution.

He also raised concerns about the unauthorized formation and activities of vigilante groups and security outfits at the state level without a national legal framework, which could undermine the country’s democratic principles and internal security.

The senate leader observed that the challenges facing the Nigeria Police “are numerous. How the police are organised, managed, governed and funded can determine its ability to deliver on its constitutional mandate of protecting the life and property of Nigerians.

“Understanding these dynamics can help in appreciating what needs to be done to improve security in the country. It is clear that Nigerians do not fully appreciate the depth and scale of the challenges facing the police.

“I maintain that the police have not been set up properly to succeed in this nation. Effective policing in Nigeria is almost impossible unless there are fundamental changes. Indeed, the constraints faced by the police are used as excuses for various misconducts and unprofessional behaviours by many officers of the force.

“Despite many attempts by its leadership of the Nigeria Police to enforce discipline and even sack bad eggs, operational misconduct is still prevalent in the ranks of police operatives, and this undermines their capacity to decisively respond to pervasive insecurity nationwide.”

He also contended that the frequent deployment of the Nigerian Armed Forces throughout the nation was a clear sign that the current police system is inadequate in addressing the security issues facing our country.

Additionally, Bamidele asserted that the frequent deployment of the Nigerian Armed Forces across the federation was evidence that the current police structure is unable to effectively address the security challenges of our nation.