Virtual Townhall: State Police in Nigeria, Balancing Local Security, Accountability and Human Rights

Nigeria’s security challenges continue to expose gaps in the country’s internal security architecture, while concerns about policing capacity, public trust and accountability remain.

Against this backdrop, calls for state police have gained momentum. Supporters see decentralized policing as an opportunity to bring law enforcement closer to communities, improve local intelligence and enable faster responses. Critics, however, warn of political interference, uneven capacity across states, weak oversight and risks to fundamental rights.

So, what should state policing in Nigeria look like?

On 19 August 2026, from 2:00 – 4:00pm WAT, Global Rights will host a virtual town hall, “State Police in Nigeria: Balancing Local Security, Accountability and Human Rights.”

The dialogue will bring together security practitioners, legal experts, civil society organizations and citizens to examine the proposed State Police Bill, consider its implications for security and democratic governance, and discuss the safeguards needed to protect human rights and accountability.

With the proposed policing framework currently under development, this is an important moment to listen, question and contribute to the conversation.