Nigeria’s push to establish state police must begin with a deep review of the country’s policing failures, according to the chairman of the Police Service Commission.

Hashimu Salihu Argungu, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, made the call when he received members of the Committee for the Implementation of State Police at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The delegation, led by Olu Ogunsakin, said it was consulting the commission to draw on its institutional experience as Nigeria explores a major reform of its policing system.

The committee is tasked with proposing a framework for how state police structures would operate, including recruitment, training standards and resource allocation.

Why the State Police Debate Matters

Calls for state police have grown louder in recent years amid concerns over rising insecurity and the limits of a centrally controlled policing system.

Nigeria currently operates a single national police force — the Nigeria Police Force — which critics say is overstretched in a country of more than 200 million people.

Supporters of state police argue that decentralising law enforcement could improve response times and local intelligence gathering.

But opponents warn that such a system could be abused by political leaders at the state level.

PSC Chairman: “Find out what went wrong”

Speaking during the meeting, Mr Argungu urged the committee to first diagnose the root causes of the current policing challenges.

“Find out what went wrong that necessitated the quest for the creation of state police,” he advised.

He said the committee should carefully examine the relationship between federal and state offences and the broader legal framework guiding policing in Nigeria.

The PSC chairman also warned that some laws guiding policing may no longer be relevant.

He stressed the need to review whether certain statutes had become obsolete in the 21st century.

Committee Seeks PSC’s Experience

Professor Ogunsakin said the committee recognised the commission’s experience in the policing sector.

“We cannot do it alone without tapping from the wisdom of the PSC,” he said.

“We are here to tap from your wealth of knowledge regarding the task before us to review the landscape, structure, and foundation to assist the Nigeria Police Force to move forward.”

He described Mr Argungu as a “fountain of knowledge”.

Learning from Global Models

Mr Argungu also encouraged the committee to examine how state policing works in other countries.

He said studying global models could help Nigeria avoid mistakes and adapt effective practices.

The chairman advised the committee to analyse the challenges faced by other countries operating decentralised policing systems before designing a Nigerian model.

He also urged members not to rush the process.

The committee, he said, should request more time if necessary to produce a well-considered framework.

Who Was Present

Several members of the commission’s board attended the meeting.

They included:

Paul Adamu Galumje, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, representing the judiciary.

Taiwo Lakanu, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

Onyemuche Nnamani, Secretary to the commission.

What Happens Next

The state police committee is expected to produce recommendations that will guide government decisions on whether and how state police could be established.

Any final decision would likely require constitutional amendments and legislative approval.

For many Nigerians, the debate is ultimately about whether a decentralised policing system could improve safety and accountability across the country.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has denied allegations that senior police officers paid ₦5 million each to secure promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

The claims were reported by the online platform Sahara Reporters, which alleged that officers paid bribes to influence the promotion process.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the commission described the report as “reckless” and said the allegations were unfounded.

“The Police Service Commission categorically denies these unfounded allegations in their entirety and describes the report as a reckless attempt to tarnish the image of both the Commission and the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement said.

The commission added that promotions from Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to ACP followed established procedures.

“Contrary to the narrative peddled by the online publication, the promotion of the senior officers from Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) to ACP followed due process and established guidelines of the Commission,” it said.

How police promotions work

The PSC is the statutory body responsible for appointing, promoting and disciplining police officers in Nigeria, except the Inspector-General of Police.

According to the commission, promotion recommendations typically originate from the Inspector-General of Police based on vacancies and officer performance.

However, final approval rests with the commission.

“The role of the IGP in the promotion process is to forward recommendations based on vacancy and performance, but the final approval rests solely with the Commission as a body,” the statement said.

It added that allegations of a “pay-to-play” system were insulting to the integrity of the board members overseeing promotions.

“To suggest that the Commission operates a ‘pay-to-play’ system is an insult to the integrity of the Board Members who oversee these exercises.”

Why the allegations matter

Promotions within the Nigeria Police Force are closely scrutinised because they affect leadership, morale and public confidence in law enforcement.

Accusations of corruption in promotion processes could undermine trust in the system and raise concerns about merit and accountability within the force.

Transparency advocates have long argued that promotion processes across Nigeria’s public institutions must remain open and merit-based to maintain credibility.

PSC challenges report, threatens legal action

The commission has asked Sahara Reporters to provide evidence supporting its claims.

“We challenge Sahara Reporters to provide verifiable evidence to support their claim of bribery rather than relying on hearsay from ‘insider sources’,” the statement said.

It also dismissed references in the report to the former Inspector-General of Police.

“The reference in the report to the immediate past Inspector-General of Police is mischievous and calculated to lend false credence to a baseless story.”

The PSC said documents cited by the publication only confirmed that promotions were approved and did not show evidence of financial transactions.

“The documents referenced, including the internal police wireless message, only confirm that promotions were approved — which is a routine administrative function.”

The commission added it was considering legal action against the platform.

“We are considering legal action against Sahara Reporters for defamation and damage to the reputation of the Commission.”

What’s next

The PSC said it remains committed to merit-based promotions within the police.

It also encouraged officers or members of the public with credible evidence of misconduct to formally petition the commission.

“Any officer or member of the public with credible evidence of misconduct is encouraged to petition the Commission directly, rather than feed sensationalist media narratives,” the statement said.

Industry and public perspective

Governance experts say transparency in public sector promotions remains critical to strengthening trust in institutions.

Analysts note that corruption allegations involving security agencies often generate public interest because they affect national security and institutional credibility.

They argue that independent verification and formal investigations, where necessary, are key to resolving such disputes.

Nigeria’s customs chief has urged Nigerians to strengthen unity and national service during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, made the call while hosting Ramadan Iftar gatherings with government officials, diplomats, and industry leaders in Abuja.

The events were organised as part of Ramadan activities aimed at promoting reflection, collaboration, and shared values among Customs officers and stakeholders.

A Ramadan message on unity

The first gathering took place on 4 March 2026 at Dunes Hotel.

It brought together senior government officials, diplomats, security chiefs, captains of industry, and both serving and retired Customs officers.

Representatives of other security agencies and senior media executives also attended.

Speaking at the event, Adeniyi said Ramadan should inspire deeper commitment to faith and service.

“Ramadan is a period that requires absolute dedication to faith. It is a time when we turn to God in prayer and seek guidance in all that we do,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to apply the lessons of the fasting period to their everyday responsibilities.

“I encourage all of us to carry the lessons of this season into our daily lives, in our interactions with one another, with our families, in our businesses and most importantly, in our service to the nation.”

Adeniyi added that the country’s progress depends on unity and shared responsibility.

“This period calls for total dedication to the service of the country. We must remain united in our commitment to national unity, in our pursuit of economic prosperity and in our determination to strengthen peace and progress in Nigeria.”

Why it matters

Ramadan gatherings within public institutions often serve as opportunities to strengthen relationships between government agencies, businesses, and civil society.

For the Customs Service, these engagements also help build trust with stakeholders involved in trade, revenue collection, and border security.

The Service plays a major role in Nigeria’s economy by generating revenue and facilitating international trade.

Experts say stronger collaboration between government and industry is key to improving customs efficiency and reducing trade bottlenecks.

Industry reactions

A senior official at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Ali Muhammad, praised the Customs leadership for driving reforms aimed at strengthening trade administration.

He said the agency’s increasing use of technology is improving transparency and cargo clearance.

Muhammad highlighted the indigenous digital trade platform B’Odogwu Digital Trade Platform as a significant innovation.

According to him, the platform aligns with the federal government’s economic recovery agenda.

He said it would help reduce delays at ports, improve efficiency, and boost Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.

The Managing Director of Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Jummai Umar-Ajijola, also praised the Customs Service for embracing innovation.

She noted that the B’Odogwu platform attracted international attention at a recent technology conference in Abu Dhabi.

According to her, global participants commended the Nigerian-developed system for its technology-driven approach to customs administration

Customs officers reflect during Ramadan

As part of the Ramadan activities, the Customs management also hosted another Iftar dinner on 5 March 2026 at the Service headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

The event was organised by Trade Modernisation Project Limited and attended by officers and personnel of the Service.

It created a moment of reflection for Muslim officers observing the breaking of their fast.

Adeniyi used the opportunity to remind officers about the spiritual significance of the season.

“I pray that the Almighty will answer all our prayers. We pray that during the remaining days of Ramadan and Lent, all our supplications will be accepted,” he said.

He also encouraged officers to promote compassion and unity within the Service.

“We should also be reminded that during this period, we are expected to demonstrate love and affection for each other. I want to wish you a remarkable and memorable fasting period, and may we witness many more Ramadans and Lenten seasons.”

What’s next

The Nigeria Customs Service is expected to continue rolling out digital trade reforms and stakeholder engagement programmes.

Officials say initiatives such as the B’Odogwu platform are part of broader efforts to modernise customs operations and improve trade facilitation in Nigeria.

Analysts believe sustained collaboration between Customs, industry players, and government institutions will be critical to achieving these goals.