State Police Bill: Bold step towards true federalism – CP
Commissioner of Police in Cross River, Rashid Afegbua, has stated that the nation’s State Police bill marks a bold step towards true federalism and improved national security.
Afegbua stated this on Friday while declaring open the 2026 International Hybrid Conference organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Calabar (UniCal).
The conference was themed, “Insecurity and National Development: Is the Nigerian State at Crossroad?”
He described the Senate’s passage of the bill as a historic milestone capable of strengthening Nigeria’s security and governance architecture through decentralised policing.
The police commissioner called for proactive, technology-driven policing, recommending dedicated state cybercrime and digital evidence units to tackle emerging digital offences.
According to him, security personnel need regular training on digital evidence collection, preservation and analysis to strengthen investigations and successful prosecution of offenders.
Afegbua stressed stronger collaboration among security agencies, saying ”intelligence sharing and coordinated operations remain essential in addressing evolving security threats.
“Sustainable security requires collective responsibility, both governments, institutions, communities and citizens must actively support security agencies,” he stated.
Similarly, Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Offiong Offiong, described insecurity as Nigeria’s greatest development challenge, requiring drastic and sustained interventions.
Represented by Prof. Anthony Eneji, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Linkages and Collaborations, Offiong said national development could not thrive without safety, urging practical recommendations capable of shaping national security policies.
The VC said UniCal’s Department of Criminology and Security Studies could provide research, training and policy support on crime prevention, intelligence and conflict management.
Offiong pledged collaboration with security agencies through research, expert consultations and training to improve intelligence gathering, operational planning and evidence-based security solutions.
“Military operations alone cannot end insecurity. I advocate integrated responses addressing poverty, unemployment, weak institutions, education and porous borders,” he noted.
The Keynote speaker, Air Vice Marshal Adebayo Kehinde, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Ground Training Command, identified bad governance, poverty, illiteracy and resource struggles as insecurity drivers, urging stronger intelligence and modern surveillance technologies. (NAN)
