Beyond decentralising the Nigerian Police: how Lagos state circumvented debates on police reforms

Abstract

Opinions are divided on the root causes of the ineptitude of the Nigerian Police Force which has been faced with both domestic and international backlashes. While certain scholars argue that the force is victim to historical subjugation, others raise questions about its centralised structure and the impact of political interference on its performance. This research examines subnational variations and differential outcomes, particularly exploring how Lagos pragmatically bypassed the lingering debates to implement a successful police intervention. Through the use of qualitative secondary data from media reports, extant academic papers and reports from government watchdogs, it however discovers that though commendable, the Lagos model can hardly be replicated in other states in Nigeria based on Lagos' peculiar economic and political characteristics.