By Abba -Eku Onyeka, Abuja
Barr Lawrence Eko Alobi, a former Commissioner of Police (CP) for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has expressed support for the establishment of State Police in Nigeria, but with a caveat.
Alobi, who is also the Managing Director/CEO of Hi-Tech Security Services and Training Limited, suggests that the Federal Government should establish a Police Trust Fund to support states that may struggle to fund their police forces.
In an interview with some journalists in his office in Abuja recently, noted that state policing is necessary and important, citing the benefits of local policing, where officers are familiar with the terrain, language, and people.
“State policing is good. Those who are from those areas will be restrained in brutalizing their kinsmen”, he said.
However, Alobi, the Principal Partner of a law firm, the Lawrence Alobi & Co, also highlighted the challenges of state policing, including funding and the potential for governors to abuse their power by controlling the police.
“Some state governors can’t even pay salary, and if you can’t pay salary, how can they fund the police?” he asked.
To address these challenges, Alobi recommends establishing a Police Trust Fund (PTF) to support states that may struggle to fund their police forces.
“If the state police should be created, the Federal Government (FG) should establish a Police Trust Fund for the funding of the police,” he said.
Alobi’s views on state policing are informed by his experience as a police commissioner and his understanding of the complexities of security in Nigeria.
His proposal for a PTF is aimed at ensuring that states are able to fund their police forces effectively, without relying solely on their own resources.
The former police commissioner also shared his views on other bills being discussed by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, including the Local Government Autonomy Bill, Judicial Review Bill, Electoral Reform Bill, and Gender Equity Bill.
On local government autonomy, Alobi emphasized the importance of giving local governments the freedom to operate without interference from state governors.
“Local government autonomy is very, very important,” he said.
On judicial reform, Alobi suggested that the judiciary needs to be empowered and given the necessary logistics to function effectively. “The judiciary should be empowered, give them necessary logistics, they need to do their job,” he suggested.
On electoral reform, Alobi noted that the electoral process needs to be credible and transparent. “The law should ensure that our votes count,” he advised.
Finally, on gender equity, Alobi emphasized the importance of giving women equal opportunities to contribute to society.
“Women should be given equal opportunities, so they can also contribute. Some of them are very dedicated, and women are less corrupt”, he concluded.
