Itse Sagay urges state police to tackle insecurity in Nigeria
Itse Sagay, a former chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption, has called for the urgent creation of state police in Nigeria. He believes that empowering states to operate their own police forces will help address the country’s ongoing security challenges. Sagay criticised the current federal police system for its slow response to criminal activities. He also highlighted the need for constitutional amendments and proper funding to ensure the effectiveness of state police.
What we know
- Itse Sagay described state police as the solution to Nigeria’s security crisis, arguing that state-controlled forces would lead to faster and more efficient responses.
- He noted that northern politicians had historically opposed state police, but expressed optimism about current presidential support for the idea.
- Sagay suggested that excess funds from the removal of subsidy could be used by governors to establish and fund state police forces.
- He recommended that state governors manage these forces but acknowledged the risk of abuse, emphasizing the role of civil society and legal action as checks.
- Sagay criticised the federal police for delayed responses to attacks and advocated for the adoption of modern tracking technology to improve security outcomes.
