Nigeria: State Police Won't End Insecurity, Tackle Poverty First - ADP Chieftain Tells Tinubu

What the report says

A United States-based entrepreneur and Action Democratic Party chieftain, Chris Emejuru, has urged President Bola Tinubu to be cautious about Nigeria’s proposed state policing plan, arguing that it will not by itself solve the country’s insecurity problems. In a statement reported by Leadership and distributed by AllAfrica, he said the reform has potential but should come with safeguards to prevent abuse or capture by corrupt actors.

Emejuru said the government should place greater emphasis on poverty reduction, describing economic hardship as a major driver of unrest and crime. He argued that when people have access to work, empowerment and support, desperation falls and insecurity is likely to ease. He also suggested that public policy should focus on practical measures that improve daily life, rather than relying mainly on force.

The remarks come amid wider debate in Nigeria over whether state police would improve security in a country facing insurgency, banditry and other violent crimes. State policing has long been discussed as a possible constitutional and administrative reform, but critics and supporters continue to disagree on how effective it would be and what checks would be needed. Emejuru’s intervention adds to calls for a broader approach that combines security reform with social and economic interventions.