State Police Could Create 360,000 Jobs Before 2027 — Presidency

The Presidency has reiterated its commitment to reforming Nigeria’s security architecture, expressing confidence that the proposed state police system could be established before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first term.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said decentralising policing would be an important step toward addressing Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.

Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Onanuga pointed to what he described as a structural weakness in the existing system. He noted that although state governors are constitutionally regarded as the chief security officers of their respective states, they do not exercise direct control over police formations operating within their jurisdictions.

According to the presidential aide, the introduction of state police could also provide significant employment opportunities, particularly for young Nigerians.

He explained that states would be able to recruit personnel from their local communities, potentially strengthening security while helping to reduce unemployment.

Onanuga estimated that if each of Nigeria’s 36 states recruited about 10,000 personnel, the initiative could generate approximately 360,000 jobs.

The presidential aide also dismissed claims that the proposed state police system was primarily motivated by the 2027 general elections. He argued that the reform could be implemented either before or after the elections.

Onanuga further maintained that increased allocations to state governments could improve their ability to finance and sustain state-level policing structures.

Presidency Reaffirms Commitment to Local Government Autonomy

Onanuga also spoke about the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure the implementation of financial autonomy for local government councils following the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling.

He acknowledged that implementation has been slower than expected in some states but expressed optimism that the situation would improve.

The presidential aide stressed the importance of having elected local government chairmen actively operate from their councils rather than spending extended periods in state capitals or Abuja.

He argued that effective grassroots governance is essential to addressing security and development challenges in rural communities.

Onanuga also urged residents to demand greater accountability from their state governors, particularly when elected officials spend significant periods outside their states.

He maintained that good governance requires leaders to remain accessible and actively engaged with the people they were elected to serve.