Renowned constitutional lawyer Magaji Mato, SAN, has asserted that decentralizing the police force through the creation of state police will fail to resolve Nigeria’s security crisis, emphasizing that the nation’s primary obstacle is political unwillingness.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Mato said Nigeria has the manpower and resources required to tackle terrorism and banditry without decentralising the police force.
“It is actually not about the state police. It is not the state policing that will bring about security.”
He said that the government has failed to demonstrate the political will required to confront insecurity, adding that many of the country’s security challenges are politically motivated.
Mato also warned that state police could be abused by governors and other political actors, citing concerns over political opponents being restricted from operating in some states.
He said Nigeria must prioritise national unity and place the interests of the country above political parties and personal interests.
“What we lack is the willpower and the ability to stand for the truth when it comes to the issue of the Nigerian state.”
Mato emphasized that leaders must take the Nigerian project seriously and defend national interests rather than prioritising their political parties or personal interests.
What You Should Know
This news centers on the ongoing debate surrounding the decentralization of policing in Nigeria, with legal expert Magaji Mato cautioning that simply creating state police will not automatically stop banditry and terrorism. Instead, he believes the core issue lies with political leaders failing to exercise true willpower to tackle criminal elements, while also warning that state governors might misuse state police forces to suppress political opponents.
- Positive Impact: Highlighting the need for political will encourages citizens to demand greater accountability, transparency, and effective resource deployment from existing security structures rather than relying solely on structural changes.
- Potential Concerns: Maintaining the status quo without addressing leadership commitment leaves communities vulnerable to ongoing insecurity, while introducing state police without robust safeguards could potentially lead to political victimization and abuse of power by state executives.
