A former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has warned that the proposed creation of state police will not, on its own, resolve Nigeria’s deepening insecurity, insisting that comprehensive constitutional restructuring remains the only sustainable solution.
Ezekwesili, in a public memorandum addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and other key stakeholders, said the country’s worsening security crisis is rooted in structural and governance deficiencies rather than the absence of decentralised policing.
Her position comes amid renewed moves by the Federal Government and lawmakers to establish state police as part of efforts to curb rising cases of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes across the country.
While acknowledging growing national support for state police, the former minister stressed that the proposal merely addresses a symptom of a deeper systemic failure.
“The security crisis is real, but it is not fundamentally a policing crisis. It reflects deeper constitutional, governance and political economy challenges that have weakened state capacity and undermined public institutions,” she said.
Citing recent survey findings, Ezekwesili noted that insecurity has reached alarming levels, with a significant majority of Nigerians identifying kidnapping and abduction as major national concerns, while many feel unsafe in their homes and communities.
She added that the widespread nature of the crisis—spanning different regions—underscores its systemic roots rather than isolated security lapses.
Ezekwesili argued that Nigeria’s current constitutional framework, particularly the 1999 Constitution, concentrates excessive powers at the federal level, leaving states with limited autonomy despite the country’s federal structure.
According to her, key sectors including policing, prisons, railways, and natural resources remain under the Exclusive Legislative List, thereby restricting the ability of sub-national governments to effectively respond to local challenges.
“Decentralising policing without addressing the broader constitutional imbalance is akin to treating symptoms while ignoring the root cause,” she said.
She traced the over-centralisation of power to decades of military rule, during which authority was systematically transferred from regional governments to the centre and later entrenched in the current constitution.
The former minister warned that the consequences of this imbalance extend beyond insecurity to include weak public service delivery, fiscal dependency and poor accountability.
She therefore called for a broader national conversation on restructuring, urging Nigerians to move beyond the narrow debate on state police and embrace comprehensive constitutional reforms.
Ezekwesili advocated a citizens-led sovereign national conference and a referendum to produce a new constitution that would rebalance powers, strengthen fiscal federalism and promote accountability.
“State police will be necessary, but necessity does not make it the solution to a dysfunctional system,” she said.
She further urged urgent action, warning that continued delays in addressing structural issues could worsen Nigeria’s security and governance challenges.
Ezekwesili disclosed that she would soon unveil a detailed roadmap outlining immediate steps towards a citizens-driven constitutional reform process.
“Now is the time to act decisively. Nigeria cannot afford further delays in confronting its foundational challenges,” she added.
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