Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State maintains that establishing state-level police forces is the primary method for resolving Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges. During a recent appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time program, Sani emphasized that the current national police and military force counts are insufficient when measured against international standards.
Sani pointed out that the nation possesses fewer than 400,000 police officers and under 250,000 military personnel to serve a population of 230 million. This ratio falls far short of the global benchmark of one security professional for every 450 citizens, leaving significant areas of the country poorly protected.
The governor critiqued current local security arrangements like the Amotekun, noting their ineffectiveness stems from legal restrictions that prevent these personnel from carrying lethal weapons. He argued that this limitation effectively places them in danger without allowing them to properly defend their communities. Citing the requirements of true federalism, Sani questioned why Nigeria continues to operate without state police when such structures are standard in other functional nations.
