Elumelu Advocates for State Police with Safeguards

Ndudi Godwin Elumelu, the Minority Leader of the 9th House of Representatives, expressed his support for the establishment of state police during a goodwill message at the 2nd Annual House of Representatives Press Corps Distinguished Parliamentary Lecture in Abuja. The lecture, themed “The Imperative for State Police: Securing Communities, Strengthening Federalism,” aimed to discuss Nigeria's policing architecture and the implications of state police.

Elumelu highlighted the importance of decentralizing policing to enhance community security and address national security concerns. He stressed that policing should be viewed as a governance issue and called for a framework that includes safeguards against political interference and abuse of power.

Elumelu emphasized the need for professionalism, accountability, and effective oversight in any state policing arrangement. He also linked the discussion to the broader context of federalism, advocating for a balance between national unity and local responsiveness.

Continuous dialogue and institutional reforms were recommended to strengthen this balance.