State policing could cost Nigerian states N120bn to establish

As debates over the creation of state police continue across Nigeria, a new analysis suggests that establishing and sustaining a functional state policing system could require tens of billions of naira in initial investment and recurring annual expenditure.

The analysis, based on globally referenced police-to-population benchmarks and current estimates for police training and operational equipment in Nigeria, indicates that a medium-sized state with a population of five million people could require nearly N50 billion simply to recruit, train and equip a police force, excluding infrastructure, salaries, vehicles, weapons and technology.

The issue of state policing has gained renewed attention amid growing concerns over insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes and other violent crimes across different parts of the country.

Proponents argue that state-controlled police formations would improve local intelligence gathering, enhance response times and complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force.

However, questions remain about funding, operational independence and sustainability.

While there is no universally mandated ratio of police officers to citizens, the United Nations and the International Association of Chiefs of Police frequently reference a benchmark of about 300 police officers per 100,000 residents, equivalent to one officer for every 333 people.

Applying this benchmark to a state with a population of five million residents would require approximately 15,000 police officers to provide adequate policing coverage.

Under current arrangements in Nigeria, recruits undergoing training at police colleges typically receive monthly stipends ranging from N10,000 to N45,000, depending on educational qualifications and entry level.

Using the upper estimate of N45,000 monthly over a six-month training period, each recruit would receive approximately N270,000 in allowances.

For a state seeking to train 15,000 officers, the total stipend bill would amount to about N4.05 billion.

Analysts note that this figure covers only trainee allowances and does not include the costs of instructors, training facilities, accommodation, feeding, logistics and curriculum development.

According to estimates from state security support organisations such as the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, properly equipping a police officer with complete operational gear costs at least 3 million.

The equipment package typically includes bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets, uniforms, boots and non-lethal operational tools such as tasers and tear gas.

At that rate, equipping a force of 15,000 officers would cost approximately N45 billion.

When combined with training stipends, the initial personnel preparation cost rises to about N49.05 billion.

Experts say the actual cost of establishing a state police service would be far higher because the training and equipment figures do not account for essential infrastructure and operational assets.

Such a police service would require state headquarters, area commands, divisional offices, barracks, training institutions, armouries and detention facilities.

In addition, states would need to invest heavily in patrol vehicles, motorcycles, communication systems, surveillance technology, emergency response centres, digital crime databases and command-and-control infrastructure.

Weapons procurement, ammunition stockpiles and maintenance facilities would also constitute major expenditure items.

If officers earn an average salary and allowance package of N150,000 per month, a 15,000-member force would cost approximately N27 billion annually in wages.

Should the average monthly compensation rise to N200,000, annual personnel expenditure would increase to about N36 billion.

These estimates exclude pension obligations, healthcare benefits, insurance, housing allowances and operational logistics.

The financial implications differ according to population size as state with three million residents would require approximately 9,000 officers and an estimated N29.43 billion in initial recruitment, training and equipment costs.

For a state with seven million people, the requirement rises to about 21,000 officers at a startup cost of roughly N68.67 billion.

Meanwhile, a state with 10 million residents could need as many as 30,000 officers, pushing the initial investment to more than N98 billion before infrastructure and operational expenses are considered.

Speaking in separate interviews with BusinessDay, Lawrence Alobi, former Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, and Idowu Isamotu, an Abuja-based security analyst, argued that while state policing could significantly improve security response and community-based law enforcement, adequate legal safeguards and funding mechanisms must be put in place to prevent political interference and operational inefficiencies.

Alobi explained that the ongoing legislative process seeks to alter Nigeria’s policing structure by allowing states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the federal police.

According to him, the proposed arrangement would create clearer divisions of responsibility between federal and state policing authorities, with certain offences falling within the jurisdiction of state police while crimes that transcend state boundaries would remain under federal control.

He noted that federal authorities would also intervene in situations where criminal activities overwhelm state police capabilities or involve multiple states.

“There must be collaboration between the federal police and state police with a view to ensuring effective policing and security across the country,” he said.

The retired police chief warned that financing state police operations would be one of the most significant challenges facing the initiative.

He stressed that policing is highly capital-intensive and requires substantial investments in personnel, logistics, technology and operational equipment.

According to him, several states already struggle to meet salary obligations for civil servants, raising concerns about their ability to adequately fund independent police formations.

Alobi advocated the creation of dedicated police trust funds at both federal and state levels, managed by professionals rather than politicians.

He argued that such funds should be insulated from political influence and administered by individuals with deep knowledge of policing and security operations.

“My fear is funding. Some states cannot even pay their workers. Security and policing are capital-intensive. There must be a guaranteed source of funding provided in the legislation,” he said.

He further proposed that companies operating in Nigeria should be mandated by law to contribute between one and two per cent of their profits to police trust funds, arguing that businesses benefit directly from a secure operating environment.

According to him, mandatory private sector contributions could help ensure sustainable funding and prevent governments from neglecting security financing.

Beyond funding, Alobi identified political abuse as another major risk associated with state policing.

He warned against situations where governors might attempt to use state police as political tools or instruments of partisan control.

The former commissioner insisted that any state police system must be legally protected from political manipulation and operate strictly as a professional law enforcement institution.

“Nigerian police or state police should not become an arm of any political party. They must be isolated from political control,” he said.

He stressed that operational decisions, investigations and law enforcement activities should remain guided by professional standards rather than political considerations.

Alobi also observed that many states currently operate various quasi-security outfits and joint task force arrangements to complement conventional policing.

While acknowledging their contributions, he argued that the proliferation of multiple security agencies often leads to duplication of responsibilities and strains government resources.

According to him, a coordinated state policing framework would provide a more structured and efficient approach to internal security management.

Using an analogy, he noted that governments risk spreading resources too thinly by maintaining numerous overlapping security outfits rather than investing adequately in a well-organised policing system.

Addressing concerns that state policing could diminish the authority of the Inspector-General of Police, Alobi dismissed such fears.

He maintained that Nigeria would remain a federation and that the Inspector-General would continue to exercise supervisory and coordinating authority over policing nationwide.

“The country remains one nation. Each state is a component of the federation. There must be cooperation, collaboration and coordination between state and federal police for effective law enforcement,” he said.

On his part, Idowu Isamotu, security analyst said the establishment of state police would help bridge significant security gaps arising from Nigeria’s vast landmass and large population.

He noted that with an estimated population exceeding 215 million people and extensive territories that are difficult to police effectively from the centre, decentralising law enforcement would bring security closer to communities.

According to him, many remote areas across the country remain under-policed, making it difficult for residents to receive timely security intervention.

Drawing from his experience travelling through parts of northeastern Nigeria, including Adamawa State, Isamotu said some communities are located far from administrative centres and often experience delays in security responses.

He argued that state police would enhance proximity-based policing, allowing security personnel to respond more rapidly to emerging threats without waiting for directives from Abuja.

“The major gap state police will fill is proximity. Security will be closer to the people and there will be quicker responses to security challenges,” he said.

Isamotu also highlighted the potential for improved operational efficiency under a decentralised policing framework.

According to him, one of the weaknesses of the current system is the bureaucratic process that sometimes slows responses to emergencies.

He argued that state police commands would be able to take immediate action on local security matters without having to wait for approvals from the national headquarters.

“The bureaucracy will be reduced. There will be greater efficiency and effectiveness in the policing system because officers will not always need to wait for signals from Abuja before responding to security challenges,” he said.

The analyst noted that discussions on state police remain at the legislative stage, with constitutional amendment proposals already progressing through the National Assembly.

For now, he added, attention should remain focused on designing a structure capable of addressing existing security deficiencies while ensuring accountability, professionalism and effective service delivery.