Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has called for the creation of a dedicated funding structure for state police to ensure officers receive proper salaries and operate effectively.
With Nigeria moving closer to establishing state police as a response to growing security challenges, Abbas warned that inadequate funding could create new risks if officers are unable to sustain themselves financially.
Speaking on Wednesday during the national security roundtable at the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, the Speaker said funding arrangements must be addressed before state police systems begin operations.
He stressed that no state should establish a police force it lacks the capacity to maintain, warning that poorly funded officers could become a danger to the same citizens they are meant to protect.
Abbas suggested that financing could come through a dedicated policing fund, shared service arrangements, or structured federal support linked to clear operational standards.
He also recommended a gradual implementation of state police across the country rather than launching the system simultaneously in all 36 states. According to him, Nigeria should adopt a step-by-step approach that allows states to learn from experience before expanding the programme nationwide.
The Speaker emphasized that national minimum standards should be established before any state police command begins operations, noting that proper regulations must come before the creation of new structures.
Abbas argued that Nigeria’s population size and geographical diversity make it difficult for a single centrally controlled police force to effectively secure every community.
He said local policing would provide officers with better knowledge of communities and improve responses to issues such as banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder conflicts, and attacks on schools.
The House Speaker also highlighted the importance of a modern criminal and biometric database, calling for stronger intelligence sharing among security agencies to improve national security.
He urged stakeholders involved in the state police process to carefully address issues surrounding funding, supervision, and cooperation among security institutions.
