State Police Will Not Improve Security - IAP

Good governance groups cautions against state government-controlled police

(PRWEB) April 25, 2004 -- As Nigerians reel under the impact of the deteriorating security situation in the country, Independent Advocacy Project (IAP), the good governance group has described agitations for state police under the control of state governors as diversionary, while calling on the federal government to take a people-centredR 21; approach in addressing genuine security concerns.

Large cache of arms and armaments are literally floating all over the place, hired assassins are on the prowl as assassinations have sadly become a method of settling even minor disputes; armed gangs and robbers, rather than the police, appear to be ruling the nations inner streets; incidents of kidnappings and other violent crimes have increased geometrically; while corruption in and out of government remains an intractable problem.

In a statement, IAP expressed serious concerns over the inability of government, through the police and other security forces, to protect life and property. Today, Nigerians not only have to cope with unemployment and collapsing social infrastructures, but are now daily living in fear of their lives.

Says the good governance group Government should be reminded that the increasing spate of violence is a direct impact of high unemployment (which independent observers put at well over 65 % of the total workforce), lack of opportunities for individual advancement and the general feeling, especially among the youths, that their future is less than bright. The police are ill trained and ill motivated, making some of them willing collaborators with armed thieves and assassins."

Rather than agitating for state police that will do nothing but create even more confusion and raise more policing questions, IAP calls on the federal government to take the lead in urgently addressing fundamental governance issues such as accountability in the area of revenue collection and transparency in revenue allocation as means of curbing corruption. Savings generated by introducing workable reforms may then be used in creating employment and improving social infrastructure.

Adds IAP: Taking this governance approach" will lead to a noticeable improvement in the security situation as the huge leakages in the system continue to avail few Nigerians with opportunities to pilfer state resources while majority of ordinary Nigerians are left at the mercy of those thugs who have decided to take the law into their hands.