A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Sen. Ita Enang, has thrown his weight behind the decentralisation of policing in Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to allow states a greater role in managing internal security.<\/p>\n
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Enang, once a staunch opponent of state policing, said he had changed his stance in light of the country\u2019s worsening security situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cInitially, I didn\u2019t support state police,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cSen. Ike Ekweremadu had always advocated for it, and I was opposed. But I am now a convert. I support it because our understanding of security has evolved, and accountability has become lopsided,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Enang noted that security failures were often blamed on the President, even when they occur within the purview of state governments, reflecting a lack of clear responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernors are expected to support the police, but they do so voluntarily; not as an obligation. Yet, when security breaks down, it\u2019s the President who gets the blame,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The former presidential aide also wants more attention and resources allocated to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) like other federal security agencies, such as the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).<\/p>\n
He argued that granting states more responsibility for internal security, while the Federal Government retains supervisory oversight, would enhance effectiveness and accountability.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet the states take up more responsibility for their internal security, with the Federal Government maintaining supervisory control to prevent abuse,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Enang, however, cautioned against giving governors unchecked security powers, citing historical and recent examples of misuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must remember the era of regional autonomy that culminated in the Nigerian Civil War.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have also been political crises in states like Ondo and Osun that remind us of the risks,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n
He, therefore, called for a carefully designed framework that empowers states to manage security while preserving national cohesion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere must be a balance. States should have their own police forces, but within a structure that ensures unity and federal oversight,\u201d Enang said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n