The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has strongly opposed the Federal Government’s recent proposal to create state police, describing it as a “misplaced priority” that will do little to address the country’s security challenges. The group argues that the move will only add to the already existing problems of underfunding, manpower shortages, and corruption within the nation’s security agencies.
In a statement released on Thursday in Kaduna, the National President of the NYCN, Isah Abubakar, expressed concern that establishing state police could exacerbate the issues currently plaguing the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), including inadequate budget allocation, outdated equipment, and a lack of proper welfare provisions for officers.
“This is a misplaced priority. Creating state police is simply a waste of time. What we need is a commitment to fix and strengthen the current system,” Abubakar said, emphasizing that more attention should be directed towards reforming the NPF, which is already stretched thin in terms of resources and personnel.
Abubakar further warned that such a move could pose significant political risks. He pointed out that politicians in Nigeria are not yet mature enough to manage a security structure without federal oversight, suggesting that state police forces could be misused for political purposes, such as intimidation and rights violations.
“Nigerian politicians are not yet mature enough to handle a security structure without federal oversight. We are convinced they will abuse the authority entrusted to state police and violate citizens’ fundamental rights,” he warned.
While some states have proposed the creation of regional security outfits to address specific local challenges, Abubakar cautioned that this rationale should not justify the establishment of politically motivated security forces that could ultimately undermine the nation’s security architecture.
Instead, the NYCN president called for the immediate formation of a committee to overhaul and strengthen the Nigeria Police Force. He pointed to the disparity between the population of over 200 million Nigerians and the fewer than 300,000 police officers currently tasked with maintaining law and order.
“We are proposing a law enforcement body of at least five million officers. That number better aligns with contemporary demands and demographic realities,” Abubakar suggested. “History will vindicate us. In moments of crucial national decisions like this, we must add our voice and say no to state police.”
His remarks came after President Bola Tinubu, while addressing the rising insecurity in the North, announced plans to review security operations and create state police.
“I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create a state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us,” the president said.
