By Mercy Gadia
A member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Yalleman Abubakar Makki, has declared that the establishment of state police is inevitable, insisting that Nigeria must urgently restructure its policing system to tackle rising insecurity.
Makki, who represents Mallam Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, spoke in Abuja during an interview on the sidelines of legislative engagements on security reforms.
He said the National Assembly has been repeatedly confronted with insecurity, describing it as a near-weekly agenda in the Green Chamber.
“We have been discussing insecurity almost every week since we came into the Green Chamber,” he said.
The lawmaker said the persistence of insecurity points to deeper structural gaps beyond funding challenges, adding that Nigeria must now consider urgent reforms.
“Where are the lapses? Is it funding? The government cannot deliberately hold funding. There must be one issue or the other. So we need to go back and find immediate solutions,” he said.
Makki insisted that state police remains the most viable option, arguing that decentralised policing would improve response to crime across the country.
“State police must come to the states whether we like it or not,” he said.
He argued that security challenges differ across regions and should be handled locally for effectiveness.
“If the advantage surpasses the disadvantage, we should close our eyes and find remedies to those disadvantages,” he added.
The lawmaker likened policing responsibility to trust and delegation, insisting that security is more effective when closer to the people.
“If I give you my bag to hold, can anybody tamper with it? So if security is in your hands, you will secure yourself better,” he said.
Makki disclosed that the committee has concluded broad consultations with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, clerics, former leaders, and members of the Governors’ Forum, ahead of proposed reforms.
He said the outcome of the engagements would feed into a constitutional amendment process targeting Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution.
“We have gathered all our reports. If God willing, tomorrow when we go to the chambers, we are going to pass state police and amend Section 214 of the Nigerian Constitution,” he said.
On the proposed forest guards initiative, Makki said it should not be confused with the state police debate, explaining that both address different security needs.
“Do not mix up things. Circumstances warrant that 1,000 forest guards should be quickly engaged to rescue kidnapped victims,” he said.
He added that forest guards represent an immediate operational response, while state police remains a long-term structural reform.
Makki expressed optimism that ongoing legislative efforts would strengthen national security, insisting that Nigeria must remain united in confronting its security challenges.
“Nigeria must stand,” he said.