*Backs constitutional amendment, insists on legislation to curb misuse
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has thrown his weight behind the clamour for the establishment of state police, asserting that fears of misuse by governors are exaggerated since they can be addressed through clear, enforceable legislation.
Speaking to TVC television programme on the contentious debate over decentralizing policing in Nigeria, Governor Sani maintained that what the country needs is not fear of abuse, but strong legal safeguards that ensure state police focus solely on combating crime—not political opponents.
“The law must define the roles of state police strictly for security and crime prevention, not for political manipulation. Once this is in place, abuse becomes nearly impossible,” Sani said, stressing that governors do not need to control law enforcement to deliver good governance.
He further called for a review of the 1999 Constitution to move “police” from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list—giving states the power to establish and manage their own police forces. According to him, the centralized policing model has failed to respond adequately to Nigeria’s complex and diverse security needs.
Governor Sani emphasized that security is not just a political issue but the bedrock of development. “Without peace and safety, you can’t talk about healthcare, education, roads or any meaningful investment,” he said.
On the perennial concern about the cost of funding state police, the Kaduna helmsman dismissed such arguments, saying, “We cannot put a price tag on human life. If we can afford overheads in other sectors, we can prioritize funding local police to save lives.”
He noted that insecurity has already crippled development efforts in many parts of the country, including key infrastructure projects. He explained that as Nigerians and representatives of the people, Northern governors can’t keep on folding our arms on worrisome insecurity challenges, adding that the urgency is real. He noted that every citizen deserves to feel safe in their communities.
“Governor Sani’s position has reignited national debate on devolving policing powers—a move many believe is crucial for tackling Nigeria’s worsening security crisis”, an Aide to the governor, Nasir Dambatta told our reporter on telephone.
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