A United States congressman, Riley Moore, has called for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s policing system, arguing that state governments must be empowered to respond more effectively to worsening insecurity, particularly in the country’s Middle Belt.
Moore made the assertion in a post on X on Wednesday, urging Nigerian authorities to take more decisive steps to protect citizens.
The lawmaker advocated structural reforms to Nigeria’s policing framework, stressing that it is past time to decentralise police authority in the country.
He said, “Christians in Nigeria continue to face brutal violence and death at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists. The government in Abuja must step up and protect their citizens in the Middle Belt. It’s past time to decentralize police authority so state governments can protect their citizens and stop this horrific persecution.
His comments add to growing international attention on Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly calls for reforms that would allow sub-national governments to play a greater role in maintaining law and order.
The call also comes amid renewed moves by the Federal Government to advance the creation of state police as part of efforts to tackle the country’s multifaceted security challenges.
Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, recently inaugurated an eight-member committee to drive the implementation of state policing, signalling what appears to be a significant step by the administration of Bola Tinubu towards decentralising the nation’s security architecture.
The committee is expected to develop the framework for the proposed state policing model and coordinate its rollout in line with the IGP’s broader policing vision following his confirmation as the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police.
President Bola Tinubu has also urged members of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, to begin the process of amending the Constitution to accommodate state police, describing the decentralisation of policing as vital to reclaiming forests from armed groups and combating terrorism.
By: Deborah Musa
