Underfunded Police Contribute to Growing Insecurity in Nigeria, Says Former IGP Okiro

By Juliet Umeh

Former Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro has blamed Nigeria’s worsening insecurity on years of inadequate funding, insufficient manpower, and a lack of equipment for the police force. He warned that the country’s security problems will continue unless the government prioritises the police.

During an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Okiro said the police, as the lead agency for internal security, have suffered prolonged neglect, leaving the force ill‑equipped to tackle banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other crimes.

He stated, “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 lamented that, despite repeated warnings over the years, successive governments failed to invest adequately in the force, creating gaps that criminals continue to exploit.

Recounting his tenure as Inspector General, Okiro revealed that he had once written to former President Goodluck Jonathan to highlight the police’s manpower shortage.

“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.

Regarding the debate over creating state police, Okiro said, “I had initially opposed the idea but have since changed my position due to the growing complexity of security challenges and the limitations of a centrally controlled police structure.”

He argued that governors are better positioned to understand the unique security issues within their states and can respond more effectively 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, and governors know what is happening in their environments,” he said.

However, he stressed that state police must operate under strict legal safeguards to prevent abuse by political office holders.

“There should be checks and balances. There should be regulations guiding state police operations. If governors are given unlimited powers over the police, there is a risk of abuse. The law must protect everyone, whether they are in government or not,” he added.

Okiro also urged the federal government to adopt fresh strategies for addressing insecurity, including seeking external expertise where necessary.

“The issue of insecurity affects everybody. Parents are affected, workers are affected, and school children are affected. The government must come up with a different roadmap to confront insecurity. If it becomes necessary to bring in people with the expertise to assist, there is nothing wrong with that,” he stated.

The former IGP warned that insecurity poses a significant threat to economic growth, noting that investors would remain reluctant to commit resources to an environment where lives and property are not adequately protected.

“No investor will come into a country where security is not guaranteed. The government must wake up and take decisive action because insecurity affects everyone and undermines development,” he said.

He called for sustained investment in police recruitment, training, welfare and modern equipment, insisting that strengthening the force remains one of the most effective ways to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges.

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