Ezekwesilim Nigeria’s Security Crisis Rooted In Governance Structure, Not State Police Debate

Ezekwesilim Nigeria’s Security Crisis Rooted in Governance Structure, Not State Police Debate Former Nigerian Minister of Education and prominent public affairs analyst Obiageli Ezekwesili has argued that Nigeria’s worsening security challenges are unlikely to be solved by the creation of state police, insisting instead that the country’s deeper problem lies in its governance structure.

In a recent opinion article, Ezekwesili said the national conversation has increasingly focused on establishing state-controlled police forces, but warned that such a move may not address the root causes of insecurity across the country. Ezekwesili argued that Nigeria’s security crisis is fundamentally structural, pointing to weaknesses in governance, accountability, and institutional design. She maintained that focusing solely on policing reform risks overlooking broader systemic issues that continue to undermine public safety and effective governance. According to her, the debate around state police reflects frustration with rising insecurity, but does not sufficiently confront the underlying inefficiencies in Nigeria’s federal system. Instead of state policing, Ezekwesili called for comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s governance framework. She suggested that decentralising authority more broadly beyond security matters would allow states and regions to better manage resources, improve accountability, and respond more effectively to local challenges. She argued that a restructured system would empower subnational governments not only in policing but also in fiscal management, development planning, and public service delivery. Her comments come amid intensified national discussions over whether Nigeria should adopt a state policing system to address rising insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence in several regions. Proponents of state police argue that decentralised security structures would enable faster response to local threats, while critics warn it could lead to abuse of power by state authorities and deepen political tensions.

Ezekwesili highlighted longstanding governance challenges, including weak institutions, poor accountability mechanisms, and inadequate public sector performance, as key drivers of insecurity and underdevelopment. She stressed that without addressing these foundational issues, any security reform including state police may produce limited results. The former minister’s intervention adds to a growing body of opinion shaping Nigeria’s policy debate ahead of the 2027 political cycle. Analysts say the issue of restructuring is likely to remain central in discussions around constitutional reform, security policy, and federal-state relations. As debates over security reform continue, Ezekwesili’s position underscores a broader disagreement among policymakers and experts on whether Nigeria’s solution lies in decentralising policing or undertaking a more comprehensive restructuring of the state. Her argument adds momentum to ongoing calls for constitutional review, even as pressure mounts on the federal government to urgently address insecurity across the country.