The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has strongly condemned the proposed creation of state police, calling it a “misplaced priority” and a “waste of time” for the federal government.
In a statement issued by its National President, Isah Abubakar, NYCN argued that the move would merely duplicate existing security agencies and fail to address the root causes of Nigeria’s security challenges. The group pointed out that the current police force is plagued by underfunding, manpower shortages, poor welfare, inadequate equipment, and allegations of corruption.
Rather than creating new agencies, NYCN recommended that the government recruit and train more personnel from across the states into the existing Nigeria Police Force, while prioritizing improved welfare packages and allowances.
The group also warned that state police would likely be abused by politicians, leading to violations of citizens’ rights, adding that Nigeria’s political class is “not yet mature enough” to manage state-controlled security outfits without misuse.
NYCN urged the federal government to immediately set up a committee to implement a complete overhaul and expansion of the Nigeria Police Force, stressing that a nation of over 200 million people should have at least five million police personnel, compared to the current strength of fewer than 300,000.
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