NYCN Rejects State Police Proposal, Labels It Misplaced Priority

The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has criticised the Federal Government’s plan to establish state police, describing it as a “misplaced priority” that could worsen Nigeria’s already fragile security system.

In a Thursday statement from Kaduna, NYCN President Isah Abubakar argued that creating state police would only add to existing problems of underfunding, manpower shortages, poor welfare, inadequate equipment, and corruption in security agencies.

He warned that state-controlled police could easily become a political tool for intimidation and abuse, stressing that Nigerian politicians lack the maturity to manage such a structure without federal oversight.

Abubakar urged the government to focus instead on reforming and strengthening the Nigeria Police Force, including robust recruitment drives and improved welfare. He proposed expanding the force to at least five million officers to meet Nigeria’s security demands.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier disclosed plans to establish state police as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity, sparking debates nationwide. Critics, however, insist the government should prioritise fixing the systemic issues within the existing police force before creating new agencies.