As Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity, a new intervention from former Minister of Education Obiageli Ezekwesili has ignited fresh discussion over the country’s future. In a strongly worded open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, governors, and the public, she argues that creating state police alone will not solve the nation’s deep-rooted challenges.
Ezekwesili believes the security crisis is only one symptom of broader constitutional and governance issues. While acknowledging that decentralising policing could be beneficial, she insists that meaningful progress requires comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s political and institutional framework.
Her memorandum, titled “State Police Is Not the Answer. Restructuring Nigeria Is,” points to rising cases of terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, communal violence, and organised crime as evidence that the existing security system is under immense pressure. She also referenced survey findings showing widespread public concern over safety and growing distrust in the ability of institutions to protect citizens.
According to Ezekwesili, the debate should extend beyond who controls police forces. Instead, she argues that Nigerians must examine whether the current constitutional arrangement, which centralises significant powers at the federal level, remains suitable for a nation of more than 230 million people.
She contends that concentrating authority and resources in the centre has contributed not only to insecurity but also to economic underperformance and weak public service delivery. In her view, decentralising policing without broader reforms would address only part of a much larger challenge.
The former minister’s comments have added momentum to an already sensitive national conversation about governance and federalism. Supporters of state police see it as a practical response to local security threats, while advocates of restructuring argue that lasting solutions require a more fundamental redesign of Nigeria’s constitutional order.
As policymakers weigh different options, Ezekwesili’s intervention raises a compelling question: Is changing the policing structure enough, or does Nigeria need a broader transformation to secure its future?
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