What can Nigeria learn from other federal countries as it considers the establishment of State Police?

Nigeria’s growing security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and organised crime, have intensified calls for reform of its centralised policing system. Concerns about delayed responses to local threats, limited community engagement, inadequate intelligence gathering and overstretched operational capacity have renewed the debate on decentralising policing.

This NISER policy brief examines how policing is organised across different levels of government in five federal systems: the United States, India, Brazil, Germany and South Africa. Drawing lessons from these countries, it explores the institutional arrangements, governance frameworks and accountability mechanisms that could inform the development of an effective multi-level policing system in Nigeria.

The central argument is that decentralisation alone will not guarantee improved security. Effective multi-level policing requires clearly defined constitutional responsibilities, professional standards, sustainable financing, accountability and strong coordination between national and subnational law enforcement agencies.

Key issues examined

The policy brief highlights five important considerations:

• Nigeria’s security challenges: The limitations of the centralised policing system in responding effectively to diverse and evolving security threats.

• Lessons from federal systems: How different countries organise policing responsibilities between national and subnational governments.

• Institutional coordination: The importance of clear constitutional mandates, professional standards and intelligence sharing across policing agencies.

• Accountability and human rights: The need to guard against political interference, abuse of power, human rights violations and overlapping institutional responsibilities.

• Sustainable implementation: The importance of constitutional reform, adequate funding, harmonised recruitment and training standards, and effective oversight.

What does the brief recommend?

Among other measures, the brief recommends amending the 1999 Constitution to enable each level of government to establish its policing system and determine its operational arrangements. It also proposes an independent National Police Standards and Oversight Commission to regulate recruitment, training, discipline, operational standards and human rights compliance across police services.

To strengthen accountability and public trust, the brief advocates independent State Police Service Commissions, judicial oversight, legislative scrutiny and transparent complaint mechanisms. It further recommends a sustainable and transparent financing framework that clarifies funding responsibilities, provides predictable budgetary allocations and requires independent audits and public reporting, while taking account of differences in states’ fiscal capacity and operational readiness.

Download the policy brief to explore the full analysis and recommendations.