Establish state police, appoint credible security chiefs - Tinubu charged

Security experts have called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint only security chiefs with high pedigrees at all levels, to make significant changes between his administration and others.

The experts pointed out that Nigeria had officers with impeccable records in the military, police and other security agencies that could change the security narratives of the country.

They made the call in separate interviews while reacting to the inaugural address by Mr Tinubu.

In his inaugural speech, the new president said security would be his administration’s top priority, noting that ng to him, neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence.

“To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security doctrine and its architecture. We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number. We shall provide better training, equipment, pay and firepower,” Mr Tinubu stated.

Dennis Amachree, a retired director of the State Security Service, said, “I seriously hope that the hopes of Nigerians will not be dashed from the expectations they had in 2015. I will expect the new administration to face the problem of security by restructuring the Policing system to enforce the rule of law.”

Amachree added, “The president needs to balkanise the police, retrain them and direct them to quickly harvest the low-hanging fruits in society.”

Ben Okezie, a security consultant, pointed out that Mr Tinubu has a good knowledge of what the country is facing, having dealt with similar security challenges as Lagos governor.

“It’s the same thing he can bring to the national level. The president can call up all the high and top chief security officers. The one he feels won’t be able to deliver should be removed immediately,” Mr Okezie explained.

He added, “Before then, he should see what they can do before deciding who to let go or retain. And those dismissed should be replaced by better-qualified officers.”

Okezie urged the president to approve state police as he had been one of the promoters of such an institution, stressing that the governors would be in charge of the security of their states and in the best position to tackle security challenges with their local police.

The security expert also advised the president to increase the numerical strength of the police from 10,000 recruitment yearly to 20,000 through the governors.

Folorunsho Attah, another security consultant, was confident that Mr Tinubu meant his words as security matters were always uppermost in his heart.

Attah said with his performance as Lagos governor in security matters, he would do well as president.

“If he was able to curtail the activities of ethnic militias such as OPC as governor, one is of the opinion that he would do better at the centre,” he said.