ABUJA — The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has cautioned against the current legislative push to establish state police across the country, warning that a rushed implementation without proper safeguards could worsen existing security challenges.
Speaking on Arise TV on Wednesday, SCSN representative Ustaz Abubakar Mohammed clarified that the council is not opposed to decentralized policing in principle, but remains deeply concerned over the speed and structure of the proposed rollout.
Addressing the ongoing debate, Mohammed emphasized that transferring policing powers to state governments will not magically solve Nigeria’s security crises. He noted that the primary vulnerabilities in the country’s security architecture stem from a lack of professionalism, insufficient operational training, poor funding, and weak institutional coordination rather than structure alone.
Responding to questions about regional alternatives, Mohammed pointed out that Northern states already operate local security structures like the Hisbah, but cautioned that formal state policing requires far stricter constitutional guidelines. He urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to halt any hasty constitutional amendments and instead focus on fixing fundamental gaps in training, personnel welfare, and equipment within existing security forces before introducing state police units.
