State police proposal criticism grows as ex NDLEA chief Sule Momodu warns Tinubu against creating new policing structures

A former Deputy Commander General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Sule Momodu, has criticised the proposed establishment of state police, describing the initiative as a “disaster waiting to happen” and urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritise reforms within Nigeria’s existing policing framework.

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Sule Momodu made the remarks while addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday amid renewed efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to secure constitutional amendments permitting the creation of state-controlled police formations.

The President had on Friday urged the House of Representatives to incorporate strong safeguards into the proposed legislation to prevent potential abuse of state police structures by governors.

Reacting to the development, Sule Momodu argued that calls for decentralised policing largely stem from concerns that Commissioners of Police do not take operational directives from state governors.

He maintained that such constitutional concerns could be resolved through targeted amendments rather than the creation of an additional law enforcement system.

According to Sule Momodu, the State police proposal criticism should focus on addressing longstanding institutional weaknesses, including inadequate funding, poor welfare conditions and operational inefficiencies affecting existing security agencies.

He questioned whether necessary reforms within the Nigeria Police Force had been fully implemented, stressing that unresolved structural challenges would likely persist even under a decentralised policing arrangement.

The former NDLEA official identified frequent transfers of Commissioners of Police, insufficient logistics support and weak implementation of existing regulations as major factors undermining effective policing nationwide.

Sule Momodu also urged the Federal Government to assess operational realities such as the condition of patrol vehicles and equipment available to officers, describing improved logistics as essential to strengthening internal security.

While expressing reservations about the proposed reform, he congratulated the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, describing the police chief as a determined officer capable of restoring professionalism and public trust within the Force.

He called on Tunji Disu to ensure immediate implementation of Section 20 of the Police Act, which mandates competitive remuneration for police personnel relative to other law enforcement agencies, noting that improved welfare would significantly boost morale.

Sule Momodu further recommended activating provisions within the Act allowing organisations to engage specialised security personnel for VIP protection at privately funded cost, thereby reducing pressure on federal policing resources.

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The debate over state police remains one of Nigeria’s most consequential security reforms, with supporters arguing that decentralisation could improve response to local threats, while critics warn of political misuse and institutional fragmentation.