Ndukwe Backs State Police, Says It Will Enhance Security 

Emma Okonji

 As the federal government and the 36 state governors mull the creation of state police, the Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe has described the creation of state police as a step in the right direction towards enhancing security in Nigeria.

He commended President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governors for considering the need to establish state police.

The MTN chairman urged them to remain steadfast and ensure the crystallisation of the idea in the shortest possible time.

To him, the current parlous security situation in the country needs to be tackled firmly and comprehensively, and the creation of state police will help stem the increasing spate of criminality in the country.

He, therefore, enjoined both the government and the people to join hands to bring to fruition the idea of state police.

Ndukwe contended that state policing would increase the numerical strength of security personnel saddled with the responsibility for internal security.

He bemoaned the current situation in Nigeria where there is only one federal police force with a total strength of less than one million personnel.

He emphasised that state police would not only increase the overall number of police officers in the country but would ensure that officers of the state police force will operate in their localities or very familiar territories, which will help to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency.

Commenting on the often-expressed fears in some quarters about the possible misuse of state police by the sub-national political authorities, Ndukwe advocated that laws and stringent operational guidelines should be put in place to curb such likely excesses.

He submitted that state policing would ensure that virtually every inch of Nigerian soil would be protected, unlike the present situation where there abound a lot of ungoverned spaces that are often converted by bandits as the operational bases for their nefarious activities.