Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno South, has backed the establishment of state police.
Ndume spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday.
His comments came hours after the Senate passed a constitutional amendment bill to establish state police across the country.
‘Current police strength is inadequate’
Ndume said Nigeria does not have enough police officers to tackle insecurity.
According to him, the current police strength falls far below international standards.
“The total number of police officers in Nigeria is less than 400,000,” he said.
“It is nothing to write home about.”
‘Nigeria needs one million officers’
Furthermore, Ndume cited the United Nations’ recommended police-to-population ratio.
He said the UN recommends between 200 and 400 police officers for every 100,000 people.
According to him, Nigeria falls well below that benchmark.
“Nigeria, with over 200 million people, needs a minimum of one million police officers,” he said.
Supports decentralised policing
Meanwhile, Ndume argued that a centralised police system can no longer meet Nigeria’s security needs.
He said one inspector-general of police cannot effectively police a country as large as Nigeria.
“A vast country like Nigeria cannot be effectively policed under one IGP controlled from the centre,” he said.
“That is why we find ourselves where we are today.”
‘State police will strengthen security’
In addition, Ndume said decentralising policing would improve security across the country.
He noted that governors already serve as chief security officers of their states.
“I don’t see anything wrong with having a decentralised police system,” he said.
“That is to say, state police under the state government.”
