A former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, has made submissions as to how state governors can ensure that state policing when introduced is successful.
He noted that the move by the National Assembly to advance the establishment of state police, was long overdue but necessary.
Among others, he said, “For state police to succeed, governors must act responsibly. They must also be committed to improving the economy and infrastructure because they are closely linked to security”.
Eradiri said the issue of state police should no longer be politicised, noting that growing security challenges and the influx of foreign elements into communities had made the creation of state police imperative.
According to him, a properly funded state police structure would help curb insecurity and strengthen local security architecture across the country.
He, however, stressed the need for a clear operational framework that would make the police institution independent of political influence.
“The structure of state police must be properly defined. The police structure should be different from the political structure so that it will not be used by politicians to serve their personal interests,” he said.
Eradiri, a former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa State, also advocated adequate funding, modern equipment, regular training and sufficient manpower to ensure the effectiveness of state police.
He expressed concern over security challenges affecting schools and other public institutions, insisting that disciplined and responsible leadership at the state level would be critical to the success of the initiative.
He urged governors to take advantage of the proposed devolution of policing powers by investing in technology, manpower and other resources needed to enhance security.
The former IYC leader further noted that governors must demonstrate responsibility not only in security matters but also in the areas of economic development and infrastructure, stressing that all three sectors are interconnected.
(Ripples)
