The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria has opposed the Federal Government’s plan to introduce state police, insisting that such a move would worsen insecurity rather than solve it.
In a statement issued in Kaduna on Thursday, NYCN National President, Isah Abubakar, argued that the proposal was “a misplaced priority” that ignored deeper issues within the country’s existing security system.
“It is a misplaced priority. Creating state police is simply a waste of time,” Abubakar said. “What we need is a commitment to fix and strengthen the current system.”
According to him, the Nigeria Police Force is already weighed down by inadequate funding, manpower shortages, outdated logistics, and poor welfare for officers.
“If the government is serious about ending insecurity, there must be a robust recruitment drive and proper welfare provisions within the NPF rather than broadening the scope with new agencies,” he added.
Abubakar also raised concerns about political interference, warning that a state-controlled police system could be turned into an instrument of intimidation.
“Nigerian politicians are not yet mature enough to handle a security structure without federal oversight,” he said. “We are convinced they will abuse the authority entrusted to state police and violate citizens’ fundamental rights.”
While some state leaders have pushed for regional security outfits to tackle local challenges, the NYCN insisted such measures risk becoming tools of political control. Instead, the group proposed expanding the federal police force to better match the country’s population.
“With a population of over 200 million, Nigeria cannot rely on fewer than 300,000 police officers. We are proposing at least five million officers. That number better aligns with contemporary demands and demographic realities,” Abubakar stressed.
He concluded: “History will vindicate us. In moments of crucial national decisions like this, we must add our voice and say no to state police. The alternative is to build a stronger, better-resourced, and more accountable federal police force.”
President Bola Tinubu had earlier this week disclosed that his administration was reviewing plans to create state police as part of efforts to tackle insecurity, particularly banditry in the North.
