The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, has condemned in strong terms the proposed creation of state police.

NYCN labelled the state police as a “misplaced priority” and a “waste of time” for the federal government.

A statement issued by the National President of NYCN, Isah Abubakar, said, “The organization believes this initiative will duplicate existing agencies and fail to address the fundamental issues plaguing Nigeria’s security architecture.”

According to the NYCN, the current security agencies are already grappling with severe challenges such as chronic underfunding, manpower shortages, insufficient equipment, poor welfare for personnel, and widespread allegations of corruption.

The Council argued that creating new agencies would only compound the problems rather than solve them, saying that it will be more effective to recruit and train individuals from their respective states to serve in the existing Nigeria Police Force so that they receive adequate welfare and allowances.

The NYCN expressed deep concern that state police forces would inevitably fall under the control of politicians, leading to the abuse and violation of citizens’ fundamental human rights.

They also argued that Nigerian politicians are not yet mature enough to handle a security system independent of federal oversight without misusing its authority and called on the federal government to immediately establish a committee to implement a total overhaul and expansion of the Nigeria Police Force.

The NYCN asserts that a nation with over 200 million people requires a police force of at least 5 million, a stark contrast to the current force of less than 300,000.

Northern group rejects state police