A renowned security expert, Seyi Dickson, has said Nigeria’s growing insecurity can only be properly addressed if the country adopts state police.
He noted that the present centralized system is no longer enough to meet the needs of a fast-growing population.
Dickson made this known during an exclusive interview with PrimeTimes Nigeria, where he spoke on the rising rate of crime across different states and the pressure on the federal police.
He explained that Nigeria is currently under-policed, stressing that the number of security personnel has not increased in line with population growth and rapid urban development. According to him, areas that used to be forests and undeveloped land have now turned into active communities, yet policing has remained largely unchanged.
“We are under-policed as a country,” he said. “If you look at our population growth and the way communities are expanding, the police structure has not grown at the same level.”
He added that the country is facing a mismatch between its security capacity and the reality on ground, stating that “we are not growing in terms of security as much as we are growing in terms of numbers, organisation and urban development.”
Dickson also pointed out that crime has evolved beyond traditional patterns and now differs from one location to another. He said each state has its own unique challenges, which makes it difficult for a central police system to respond effectively to all situations.
“The rate and type of crime vary from place to place,” he explained. “What Lagos needs in terms of policing will not be the same as what another state requires.”
He argued that state police would allow each state to build its own capacity and focus resources on areas that matter most to them. According to him, a one-size-fits-all approach, where decisions are made at the national level and shared across all states, does not address specific local needs.
“If we have state police, each state can study its environment, understand the nature of crime there and design solutions that will work for them,” he said. “Right now, everything is being handled in one direction, and it does not always fit every state.”
Using Lagos as a case study, Dickson said local security interventions have already shown how decentralised efforts can improve safety. He noted that security presence in the state is strong, with rapid response systems that make it difficult for criminals to operate freely.
“In Lagos, response time is fast, and there is a strong network of patrol and reinforcement,” he said. “That is why certain crimes like armed attacks on moving vehicles are very difficult to carry out.”
On the issue of funding, Dickson said concerns about states not being able to afford state police are no longer valid. He explained that financial conditions have improved for many states, especially after changes in revenue allocation and tax systems.
“If this question were asked a few years ago, it would be different,” he said. “But now, allocations to states have increased, and many states are improving their internally generated revenue.”
He added that governors are becoming more proactive in exploring ways to boost revenue instead of relying only on federal allocations.
“We are seeing more governors think about how to grow their economy and attract investment,” he said. “That also means they can fund important projects like state policing.”
Dickson advised that states do not need to start big but can build their police systems gradually.
“They don’t have to begin with tens of thousands of officers,” he said. “They can start small, build gradually and use available resources effectively.”
Speaking on training, Dickson dismissed the idea that federal police officers receive a special kind of training that cannot be replicated at the state level. He explained that while basic training is important, most of what officers learn comes from real-life experience on the job.
“There is nothing special about federal police training,” he said. “What really shapes an officer is field experience.”
He gave an example of officers working in different parts of Lagos, noting that their approach to policing would differ based on the nature of crime in their area.
“An officer working in a busy and volatile area will develop a different mindset from one working in a more organised environment,” he explained. “If you bring both of them together after some time, you will see clear differences in how they handle situations.”
He said state police would allow training and operations to reflect the local environment, culture and security realities of each state.
“Each state will develop its own policing approach based on its challenges and cultural setting,” he added.
On concerns that state police could be misused by governors for political purposes, Dickson admitted that the risk exists but insisted it should not stop the idea from moving forward.
“There are risks, but that does not mean we should not move ahead,” he said. “The benefits are far greater than the fears.”
He compared the situation to driving, noting that even though accidents can happen, people still use cars because of their importance.
“We all know cars can cause accidents, but we still use them because they are necessary,” he said.
Commenting on the proposed framework for state police submitted by the Inspector General of Police, Dickson said the process would take time and require careful implementation. However, he expressed confidence in the leadership of the police.
“It is going to be a long process,” he said. “We just have to wait and see how it unfolds.”
He described the police leadership as capable and said reforms should be given time to produce results.
Reacting to recent violent attacks in parts of the country, especially the Middle Belt, Dickson said Nigeria faces both local and national security challenges. He explained that while some threats can be handled at the state level, others require a coordinated national response.
“There are security issues that go beyond individual states,” he said. “Things like terrorism and banditry need a national approach.”
However, he maintained that state police would still play an important role in addressing everyday crimes and improving local intelligence.
“State governments should be able to act quickly without waiting for federal approval,” he said.
He also called on the federal government to review and strengthen its current counter-terrorism strategy, saying more needs to be done to tackle widespread insecurity.
“We need both state and federal efforts working together,” he said. “That is how we can truly deal with the security challenges facing the country.”