President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed that the creation of state police is “unavoidable” as part of efforts to strengthen security across Nigeria.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a courtesy visit by a delegation of prominent Katsina indigenes led by Governor Dikko Radda, Tinubu said the federal government remains committed to tackling insecurity head-on.
The president directed security agencies to reassess their operations in Katsina, which has seen a surge in banditry, and announced that advanced military equipment, including drones, and surveillance technology would be deployed. He also revealed plans to strengthen the capacity of newly recruited forest guards in the state.
“The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable,” Tinubu said. “Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it.”
Tinubu further instructed that he be given daily updates on security operations in Katsina and underscored his determination to push through long-debated reforms.
“I am reviewing all aspects of security; I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically,” he said. “We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship, and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us.”
The president reminded the delegation that in February 2024, the federal government set up a committee to draft a framework for state policing, an initiative that has since gained broad support. However, as of March, 20 states had yet to submit their reports, according to Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Tinubu also paid tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died in April, assuring that his achievements would be preserved.
“The time we lost our brother, President Buhari, is a loss for all of us,” Tinubu said. “He didn’t hand over a defeated country, a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, and that is the most important thing.”
Governor Radda thanked Tinubu for his support, while former Governor Aminu Masari and Ibrahim Ida, the Wazirin of Katsina, commended the president for honouring Buhari and investing in infrastructure projects in the state. Ida also urged the federal government to upgrade the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and strengthen security in southern Katsina.
