The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has expressed deep frustration over his inability to fully manage the state’s security architecture, stating unequivocally that as things stand, he cannot take full responsibility for the worsening security situation in the region.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Lawal highlighted the structural challenges that governors face when it comes to the command and control of security forces, despite being constitutionally recognised as chief security officers of their states.
“I can tell the police commissioner, this is what I want him to do. And he will tell me that, no, sir, let me hear from my superiors. That has always been the case.
“We have limitations. And that’s a fact. Everybody will tell you we have limitations, and you know that. That is why we’re advocating for state police. Because if we do that, I think that will go a long way. I will take full responsibility. But for now, I can’t take full responsibility of the security situation in this state, because I don’t have the command and control of these people. I rely on what the federal government says. And whatever they say is final.”
According to him, the same scenario plays out with other federal security agencies, including the army and civil defence, leaving state governments largely powerless in matters of security response.
“It’s the same thing with the army, it’s the same thing with civil defense. So it’s a general thing all over the country,” he said.
Governor Lawal stressed that this operational handicap is the key reason he and many other leaders are pushing for the establishment of state police. He argued that a locally-controlled security system would allow governors to deploy personnel more effectively and take full accountability for law and order within their jurisdictions.
He said, “When I know I have my police, at least they’re listening to me, I’ll be the one to provide everything for them. The most important thing is to have the legal backing, legal authority to be able to acquire arms and be able to train these people very well, because they understand the trend better.”
Lawal concluded by reiterating that the creation of state police is the most practical solution to Nigeria’s security crisis—especially in conflict-prone states like Zamfara and across northern Nigeria.
He stated, “If we have our own police, it means we are in charge. We’re in control. We should be able to command. We should be able to tell them what to do and not to do. So I think it is the easiest thing to do, because we know these people very well, we live with these people, and part of what we promise to do is protecting lives and properties of our people. So honestly, for me, it’s one of the reason why I feel there’s a need to have community police. This should be the way forward in terms of handling all the security challenges, especially in a state like Zamfara State and other neighboring states in northern Nigeria, and even in Nigeria as a whole, because that’s the way forward.”
Melissa Enoch
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