Governor Dauda Lawal’s assertion that he could end banditry in Zamfara within two months if granted control over security agencies goes beyond rhetoric—it strikes at the heart of a long-running national debate over state policing.
For decades, Nigerian governors have been called “Chief Security Officers” in name, but in practice, they lack operational authority over the police, military, and other federal-controlled outfits. This contradiction has left states heavily dependent on Abuja for clearance in emergencies, a process many argue is too slow to counter the fast-moving tactics of terrorists and bandits.
Lawal’s frustration is not unique. Governors from Lagos to Borno have repeatedly complained about their inability to command security forces directly, despite being held accountable by their citizens when insecurity spirals. The Zamfara governor’s claim that “with his phone he can trace the locations of bandits” but cannot order an operation underscores the structural handicap faced by state executives.
The renewed push for decentralization aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent remarks that state police may become inevitable. The President has hinted that his administration is open to reforms that would empower states to set up and control their own police formations, albeit under a framework that ensures accountability and prevents abuse by state leaders.
Supporters of state police argue that decentralization would allow quicker response times, more localized intelligence gathering, and tailored strategies to suit each state’s unique security challenges. Critics, however, warn that such powers could be abused by governors for political vendettas, deepening Nigeria’s fragile unity.
Lawal’s stance has been consistent. Last year, he declared that banditry could end in two weeks if he had direct control over security outfits. His government went as far as creating the Community Protection Guards (CPG) and recruiting local hunters to complement federal forces, underscoring how desperate states have become in filling the vacuum left by Abuja’s command-heavy system.
The governor’s fresh outcry comes at a time when kidnappings, mass killings, and rural displacements remain frequent in Zamfara and other North-Western states. His call may well intensify pressure on the Tinubu administration and the National Assembly to finally resolve the question: Should Nigeria embrace state police as a structural reform to end insecurity, or continue relying on a centralized command system that many now see as outdated?
In the end, Lawal’s declaration is more than a soundbite—it is a challenge to the country’s federal structure, and a reminder that without deeper reforms, insecurity may continue to flourish no matter how determined individual governors may be.