Dr. Ope Banwo has urged Nigerians to scrutinize what he described as the “sudden resurgence” of interest in state police by President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Speaking against the backdrop of recent comments encouraging constitutional amendments, Banwo suggested that citizens should demand clarity on whether the renewed discussion on state police represents policy direction or political messaging.
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Dr. Banwo and President Tinubu
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
“For decades, state police has been debated,” he noted. “Why is the conversation only now framed as something lawmakers should begin to ‘think about’?”
Banwo argued that Nigeria’s prolonged security challenges including insurgency, banditry, and large-scale kidnappings have already demonstrated the limitations of a purely centralized policing structure.
He maintained that security architecture must reflect local realities, pointing out that effective law enforcement depends on terrain knowledge, community trust, and cultural understanding.
However, rather than simply celebrating renewed discussion on state police, Banwo called on citizens to insist on measurable steps: drafting a constitutional amendment, publishing reform frameworks, and subjecting proposals to open legislative scrutiny.
He also referenced previous warnings from federal authorities cautioning against police involvement in civil land disputes, arguing that clarity in policing roles must accompany broader reforms.
Until concrete legislative action is taken, Banwo said Nigerians are justified in questioning whether recent pronouncements amount to substantive reform or symbolic reassurance.
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