Governor Sule Says States Can Fund Their Own Police to Tackle Insecurity — Arise News Report
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has said that Nigerian states are capable of funding and managing their own police forces as part of efforts to tackle rising insecurity across the country. He made the statement during an interview monitored by Arise News, noting that the federal policing model is overstretched and ineffective for Nigeria’s current security demands.
According to the governor, states already manage education, infrastructure, and healthcare, and therefore should also be empowered to manage security.
“We can fund state police. It is not about the money. It is about political will,”
Governor Sule said.
“Those of us at the state level know the real situation on the ground. We should be empowered
constitutionally to secure our states.”
He stressed that decentralising policing would enhance intelligence gathering, community trust, and rapid response, adding that a single central command in Abuja cannot effectively coordinate security for the entire nation.
Debate Over State Police Gains Momentum
Governor Sule’s remarks come at a time of renewed national debate. Many governors, security analysts, and civil society groups support the move towards state policing, arguing that:
- Nigeria’s population and landmass are too large for a single police structure
- Local threats require localised responses
- State police would strengthen community cooperation
- The federal government could focus on terrorism and national security
However, fears of political misuse by state governors and constitutional hurdles continue to slow down the reform process.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Nigeria’s insecurity sits within a broader, multifaceted national crisis. Beyond banditry and terrorism, the country grapples with:
- Leadership and governance competence issues
- Weak institutions
- High inflation and economic hardship
- Mass youth unemployment
- Low public trust in government
- Slow, inconsistent policy reforms
These interconnected problems continue to complicate the national landscape. While state police could improve security responses, it cannot replace the need for competent, visionary leadership at all levels of government.
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