Only 400,000 Police for Over 230 Million Nigerians’ — Governor Uba Sani Pushes for State Police to Tackle Insecurity

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has renewed calls for the establishment of state police, warning that Nigeria’s current security architecture lacks the manpower needed to effectively combat banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, and other violent crimes across the country.

Speaking on the growing security challenges facing the nation, the governor said Nigeria is suffering from a critical shortage of security personnel relative to its rapidly growing population.

According to him, the country has fewer than 400,000 police officers and less than 270,000 military personnel responsible for securing a population estimated at more than 230 million people.

“We are lacking boots on ground in Nigeria. The entire police force is not more than 400,000 officers and the entire military is not up to 270,000 for a country with over 230 million people,” the governor stated.

Sani argued that the current centralized policing system is overstretched and unable to adequately respond to security threats in different parts of the country. He maintained that creating state police would strengthen local intelligence gathering, improve response times, and enhance efforts to tackle crimes at the grassroots level.

The governor’s comments come amid ongoing national discussions on constitutional reforms that would allow states to establish and manage their own police formations. Supporters of the proposal believe locally controlled police forces would be better positioned to understand and respond to community-specific security concerns.

Nigeria has continued to grapple with multiple security challenges, including bandit attacks in the Northwest, insurgency in the Northeast, communal conflicts in parts of the Middle Belt, and rising incidents of kidnapping for ransom across several states.

Advocates of state policing argue that the country’s growing population and complex security environment require a more decentralized approach to law enforcement. They contend that relying solely on federal security agencies has placed enormous pressure on existing personnel and resources.

Governor Sani’s remarks add to a growing list of calls from governors, lawmakers, security experts, and civil society groups urging the Federal Government and the National Assembly to consider reforms aimed at restructuring Nigeria’s security framework.

As debates over state police continue to gain momentum, stakeholders are expected to intensify discussions on how best to balance local security control with national oversight.

The conversation is likely to remain a key issue in Nigeria’s broader efforts to address insecurity and strengthen public safety across the federation.