Expert Calls for Local Policing to Combat Nigeria's Insecurity

Daramola Omoyel, an economist and public policy analyst, recommends the establishment of locally rooted police units within local government areas in Nigeria to address the country's security challenges. In an interview, he highlighted that Nigeria's current security architecture is overstretched due to centralization, which fails to adequately address persistent security issues.

Omoyel cautioned against merely transferring police power to state governments, arguing that this would not resolve the core challenges. He emphasized the need for a system anchored at the grassroots level, suggesting that local policing should be integrated into the national security architecture.

He noted that security threats often originate within communities and escalate to levels requiring state or federal intervention. Therefore, a local-rooted police system is essential, allowing local police units to operate effectively while maintaining national coordination and standards.