The Nigerian presidency has accused state governors of failing to properly support the fight against insecurity, especially in states where killings and violence have worsened.
This came after fresh cases of violence in Plateau, Benue, and Enugu states raised concerns about safety across the country.
The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, made these comments on a television programme, where he talked about how governors are not using their large security budgets to fully support federal security agencies in their states.
He said that despite getting security votes running into billions of naira, some governors only give small amounts to the police, army, and the State Security Service each month.
According to him, some governors give as little as ₦20 million monthly to each of these agencies, which is not enough to cover their needs.
At the same time, these governors receive between ₦1 billion and ₦3 billion in security votes.
He said this lack of proper funding is part of why violence and killings continue to spread.
When asked about the growing calls for the creation of state police, Bwala said the problem is not about needing more forces, but about better management of the ones already in place.
He explained that every state has federal security agencies operating within it and can also form their own local security teams if necessary.
He added that the resources and authority to fight crime already exist but are not being put to full use by many governors.
He also pointed out that some criminals now use advanced tools like drones, while state governments have not invested in the same technology to protect their people.
Bwala said if governors used part of their security votes to buy modern equipment like drones and vehicles, the situation could improve.
He questioned how governors who are struggling to pay workers would be able to handle the cost of running a new police force.
Although he did not completely reject the idea of state police, he said it should not be seen as the only answer to Nigeria’s insecurity problems.
In his view, action can be taken now with what is already available, and governors have a key role to play in making that happen.
Bwala! Being a presidential spokesman has eroded your reasoning faculty. Hear yourself for goodness sake.