The Body of Retired Judges in Lagos State says there is a need to have an enforcement agency at the local level to help the Nigeria Police Force ensure effective security.
The body, which comprises the retired judges between the ages of 70 and 90 years, spoke on Friday during a donation by the group to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.
Chairman of the body and former Chief Judge in the state, retired Justice Samuel Ilori, said the present federal police structure could not guarantee effective security of lives and properties because many policemen were distant from the grassroots.
He said, "It is not that Nigeria has more criminals than other parts of the world. But here, the federal police are often transferred. So, they do not know the people, place and the environment they are transferred to enough.
"There is need, therefore, to create the local police who know everywhere and everybody."
Ilori identified the major problem with the Nigeria Police as "paucity of funds," saying that was why they could not meet their constitutional mandate of protection of lives and property.
He said the body was motivated to make the donation following its approval of the initiative of the state government via LSSTF, saying such effort was worth supporting.
He said, "That is why we made our contribution of N1.25m though it may be small. The fact that one can sleep without fear of attack means a lot to us."
The former chief judge said if well funded, the police would be effective in Nigeria as their counterparts all over the world.
He said, "But the federal police are too distant from the people at the grassroots.
"If you take a look at the developed countries, especially the United Kingdom, they have federal police and county police.
"In the first republic in Nigeria, there were three different police systems- native police, regional police and Nigeria police. Each of the systems had its jurisdiction and was very effective."
The Executive Secretary, LSSTF, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, commended the group, urging all corporate bodies and residents of the state who had not supported the state, security initiative, to take their cue from the retired judges and support the trust fund.
The Punch