Defence Minister Warns State Police Could Become a Disaster

(Christopher Musa. Photo by Nigeria Stories)

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has warned that although state police could help address the country’s security challenges, poor implementation could turn it into a disaster.

Speaking at a television Town Hall meeting in Abuja on Thursday, Musa said state police is a good idea if well harnessed, planned, and executed, and could be the solution the country needs, but warned that if poorly executed, it could turn into the kind of catastrophe many fear.

He stressed that any state police structure must not be shaped by ethnicity, religion, or elite interests, insisting that it should not be ethnic-based, religion-based, or designed to serve the elite.

He recommended a phased approach to implementation, starting with state capitals, in order to better understand the operational challenges before rolling it out nationwide.

Musa also called on Nigerians to take responsibility for the country’s progress, noting that most Nigerians want change but expect others to change rather than themselves, and stressed that every Nigerian must embody the change they desire.

He acknowledged that the country continues to grapple with major challenges, including ethnic divisions, religious sentiments, and elitist interests, but maintained that the Nigeria Police Force has continued to perform creditably despite the difficult conditions under which it operates.