Nigeria Cannot Defeat Insecurity Without State Police — Gov. Uba Sani

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

Concerns that governors might weaponize state police should not derail its implementation, according to Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani.

Speaking during an Arise TV interview monitored by Persecondnews, Sani argued that proper legal frameworks can prevent political abuse, maintaining that decentralized policing is essential to tackling Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

“State police for me is an idea whose time has come. The issue here is that in Nigeria we are lacking boots on the ground. The entire police force in Nigeria is not even up to 400,000 personnel and the military is not up to 270,000 personnel.

“In a country of over 230 million people, we cannot effectively address insurgency, banditry and kidnapping without state police,” he said.

Sani argued that Nigeria’s security challenges have made decentralised policing unavoidable, citing manpower shortages in both the police and military as a major constraint in tackling insecurity nationwide.

“It depends on the members of the National Assembly who are going to craft this law to ensure that state police are not given that opportunity. They should focus on crime prevention and security issues affecting their communities,” he stated.

The governor maintained that with proper legislative safeguards and oversight, state police can function strictly as a crime-prevention tool without being abused for political purposes.

Sani further noted that effective security reform must go hand in hand with strengthening governance at all levels, especially in states where insecurity has disrupted economic and social life.

He also reflected on Nigeria’s 27 years of uninterrupted democracy, noting that the country’s democratic journey was built on sacrifices made during the struggle against military rule.

“Nobody should compare democratic dispensation and military dictatorship. We lost many of our comrades in the struggle and many others were detained because they fought for democracy and the rule of law,” Sani stressed.

The governor admitted that democracy has not fully delivered the expectations of Nigerians but insisted that reforms, not abandonment, remain the solution.

“We cannot say that it is perfect, but I believe a lot of things still need to be done to achieve democratic ideals and principles.”

He urged Nigerians to remain committed to democratic governance, stressing that sustained belief in institutions and constitutional rule remains critical to national development.

“I just want the people of Nigeria to believe in democracy and continue to fight for the entrenchment of democratic ideals. That is the most important thing.”

Sani maintained that strengthening both security architecture and democratic institutions simultaneously is essential if Nigeria is to achieve lasting peace, stability, and development across all regions.