Zamfara Governor dismisses funding fears, says state police will hold governors accountable

Dauda Lawal, Governor of Zamfara State has dismissed concerns that inadequate funding could undermine the proposed state police system, arguing that state governments already finance about 95 per cent of policing operations in their territories. He said the new arrangement would strengthen security by giving governors operational command while making them directly accountable for the safety of their states.

Lawal also reaffirmed his administration’s refusal to negotiate with armed bandits, insisting that security is a collective responsibility.

He argued that concerns over funding for proposed state police are misplaced because state governments already shoulder the bulk of policing costs.

Lawal spoke on Thursday at the ARISE News Town Hall on Building a National Consensus for State Police and National Security, where governors, security chiefs and experts examined the proposed establishment of state police as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

The governor said his position against negotiating with criminal groups had remained unchanged since assuming office.

“My stand has always been very clear as far as negotiating with bandits is concerned. From day one up to today, I’m on that position,” he said.

Lawal stressed that tackling insecurity should not be left solely to security agencies, noting that citizens also have critical roles to play by denying criminals local support networks.

According to him, informants, drug suppliers, fuel merchants and other collaborators who assist criminal gangs are as much a part of the security challenge as the armed groups themselves.

“Security is the concern of everybody, not just the security forces. We as individuals also have a lot to contribute towards securing our state. It is a collective responsibility,” he said.

He warned that unless Nigerians united against insecurity, the crisis could continue to spread.

“If we don’t come together to fight this menace, it is going to consume everybody,” the governor cautioned.

Lawal expressed optimism over ongoing police reforms, saying the proposed state police structure would finally give governors operational authority that had been lacking despite their constitutional designation as chief security officers of their states.

He said the anticipated command-and-control framework would enable governors to exercise greater responsibility while also making them directly accountable for security outcomes.

“I am happy with the way the police reform is taking place, where governors will now have responsibility for command and control.

“That is what has been lacking. Once this is in place, it will go a long way in addressing some of the challenges governors face”, he added.

Responding to concerns that inadequate funding could undermine state police, Lawal argued that the issue had already been settled in practice.

According to him, state governments currently provide virtually all operational funding required by police formations operating within their territories.

“Funding is not an issue. As far as it is today, about 95 per cent of the funding comes from state governors. If we are already providing 95 per cent, then what else are we talking about?” he asked.

Also speaking, Caleb Mutfwang, Governor of Plateau State, said insecurity in Nigeria had become increasingly complex and should not be viewed through a single lens.

He warned that as the country approaches another election cycle, political actors could exploit ethnic and religious divisions for electoral advantage, further aggravating security tensions.

Mutfwang said addressing insecurity requires more than military operations, urging greater investment in dialogue, community engagement and conflict prevention mechanisms.

He disclosed that his administration had established an inter-religious council comprising religious and community leaders to promote peaceful coexistence and moderate tensions before they escalate into violence.

The governor also said Plateau had created an inclusive security advisory team to provide a platform for dialogue, manage public perceptions and reduce mistrust among communities.

According to him, conflicts in many parts of the country are driven by multiple factors, including identity politics, economic interests, misinformation and organised criminal enterprises.

He described insurgency as having evolved into a lucrative criminal economy sustained by sophisticated supply chains.

“We need to dismantle the supply chain that feeds this industry,” Mutfwang said, warning that Nigeria was paying the price for years of inconsistent responses to security threats.

Representing Olatunji Disu, Inspector-General of Police, Olu Ogunsakin, Chairman of the State Police Implementation Committee, said the country had reached a defining moment in policing reform.

He said state police should build upon existing community security structures while providing stronger intelligence gathering and, more importantly, effective operational responses.

According to him, the immediate priority is establishing an acceptable national framework that can guide implementation and future improvements.

“The time has arrived,” he said, stressing that intelligence gathering alone would not be sufficient without timely operational responses.

On his part, Lucky Irabor, former Chief of Defence Staff, said the success of state police would depend not merely on creating new institutions but on building a professional and functional policing system.

Irabor argued that police officers across Nigeria should be trained under nationally harmonised standards to ensure professionalism, discipline and public confidence, regardless of where they serve.

He said critical areas such as training, logistics, administration and officers’ welfare must receive priority attention.

While acknowledging that each state faces unique security threats, Irabor maintained that police conduct and professionalism should remain consistent nationwide.

“There is no one-size-fits-all in terms of security challenges, but the behaviour and attitude of the policeman should not be different,” he said.

He added that a unified training curriculum should expose officers to a broad range of security scenarios, equipping them to respond effectively to the diverse threats confronting different parts of the country.