President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio are facing renewed criticism following remarks suggesting lawmakers should begin considering constitutional amendments to establish state police, a proposal critics say is long overdue.
Among those voicing concern is Dr. Ope Banwo, who questioned why years of escalating insecurity have not translated into concrete legislative action.
Banwo argued that Nigeria’s current centralized policing structure is ill-equipped to handle the complex and diverse security challenges confronting the nation.
According to him, communities across the country are grappling with religious extremism, rural banditry, organized kidnapping rings, and persistent land-related violence — crises he believes require decentralized and locally accountable enforcement systems.
“Response time saves lives,” Banwo said, adding that governors should have the authority to deploy security assets immediately rather than depend solely on federal command structures.
He also dismissed concerns that state police could be abused by governors, arguing that misuse of authority is already possible under the current centralized framework.
The legal practitioner further questioned the pace of reform, noting that the National Assembly has historically demonstrated the capacity to fast-track executive-backed initiatives when political will exists.
For Banwo, the real issue is not constitutional complexity but political commitment.
He urged lawmakers to move beyond rhetoric and formally present a constitutional alteration bill for public debate, insisting that Nigerians deserve clarity on where their leaders stand.
