Underfunded Police Fueling Nigeria’s Insecurity — Ex-IGP Okiro

Former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, has blamed years of inadequate funding, poor manpower and insufficient equipment for the worsening insecurity across Nigeria.

Okiro warned that the country’s security challenges would continue unless the Federal Government prioritises the Nigeria Police Force and provides the resources needed to effectively perform its duties.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, the former police chief said the police, as the lead agency responsible for internal security, had suffered prolonged neglect, leaving it vulnerable in the fight against banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other criminal activities.

“The police are not well-funded. They don’t have enough manpower and equipment. The federal government has so many responsibilities, and the police are just one of them. What we are seeing today is the result of the neglect of the police,” Okiro said.

He lamented that successive administrations had failed to adequately invest in the force despite repeated warnings, creating gaps that criminals have continued to exploit.

Recalling his tenure as Inspector General, Okiro disclosed that he once alerted former President Goodluck Jonathan about the shortage of police personnel across the country.

“I told the President that some police stations had been closed because of lack of personnel while thousands of educated young men and women were roaming the streets without jobs. The police needed more manpower, but recruitment was not given the attention it deserved,” he said.

On the proposed establishment of state police, Okiro said he had changed his earlier opposition to the idea due to the increasing complexity of security challenges and the limitations of a centralised policing system.

He argued that governors understand the security realities within their states and would be better positioned to respond to local threats if empowered through state policing.

“The governor of Zamfara understands the security challenges in Zamfara. The governor of Rivers understands the challenges in Rivers. Security problems differ from one state to another,” he said.

However, Okiro warned that state police must operate with strong legal safeguards to prevent political abuse.

He stressed the need for checks and balances, regulations and accountability mechanisms to ensure state police serve citizens rather than political interests.

The former IGP also urged the government to adopt new strategies, including seeking external expertise where necessary, to tackle insecurity.

He warned that insecurity was damaging economic growth, saying investors would hesitate to commit resources to a country where lives and property are not adequately protected.

Okiro called for sustained investment in police recruitment, training, welfare and modern equipment, describing a stronger police force as critical to restoring security across Nigeria.