Security: Case for alternative approach

No doubt, Nigeria is a big country with huge landmass and population. These facts, and many more, therefore, make it untenable for the country’s security arrangement to be controlled from the centre.
This is the view of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Specifically, Osinbajo said that the federal government cannot, realistically, provide security in view of the country’s estimated 180 million people.
Osinbajo mentioned, and he did not need to, Nigeria’s inability to meet United Nations’ standard of providing one policeman to 400 person’s ratio.
Speaking at the opening session of the two-day summit on National Security organised by the National Assembly, Osinbajo stressed the need for the creation of state police amid increasing security challenges in the country.
He said state policing system is the way to go because having a centralised system, as is currently the practice, cannot effectively secure the nation.
He said for the federal government to continue to provide security and do so effectively and efficiently, it would need a lot of resources to increase the number of security personnel and properly fund the security agencies and their operations.
“But for a country of our size to meet the one police man to 400 persons the UN required ratio, we will need to nearly triple our current police force, make more funding of the police, far more funding for the military and other security agencies is required,” said. “Thirdly, we cannot realistically police a country like Nigeria centrally from Abuja,” Osinbajo quipped, arguing that “state police and other community policing methods are clearly the way to go.”
Of course, the view espoused by the Vice President was welcomed with applause from the participants, most who have in the past and even now argue for the right of states in the country to establish and run their security apparatus.
The issue of state police in has for long been a divisive one with those seem to be in support seen as losers in the political equation of the country. On the other hand, those in support of strong and virile federal government which possesses control of the nation’s security apparatus are seen as patriots and lovers of united and indissoluble Nigeria.
Of course, each group has its case and demerits, which mostly depends on where and how you look at the matter. While allowing states to control their own police will enable them to address their peculiar security challenges, there is the danger of political leaders in states descending to the level of intimidating opponents and all those who share contrary view with them.
It is needless to say that intimidation and repression of opponents are inimical to democracy and its best practices.
Yet, there is no denying the fact that the nation’s security arrangement is not satisfying the interests of the federating units and no one highlights that fact better than the Vice President.
However, it is doubtful if the state police arrangement is the only way to go to change things for the better, especially if the issue of funding the institution is concerned.
In fact, available figures tend to suggest that the police will fare worse under state administration and the reason is obvious. Most of the state governments, if not all, are now battling to pay salaries of workers, a situation that forced many of them to seek cash assistance from the federal government.
No doubt, what happens when the burden of ensuring security for millions of people with all the big cash running into billions needed to acquire security hardware and equipment is transferred to the states is better imagined than told.
Thus, while the idea of decentralising security system is apt and germane in the country, there is the need to treat and address security matters apolitically. There is also the need to consider other options of making security effective and efficient in the country.
It is needless to say that for too long, the security arrangement and personnel have failed and, in the process, many lives and property were lost. All this must come to an end and lives must be protected at all costs, and be treated as precious by political leaders.