The Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) has urged caution over the proposed creation of state police, warning that the ongoing constitutional debate must not distract the Federal Government from its primary responsibility of securing the lives and property of Nigerians.

DLA’s National Chairman, Barr. Samuel M. Memeh, in a statement said while discussions on state policing are legitimate, they should not be presented as the immediate solution to the country’s worsening security crisis.
The DLA recalled that it had, on June 10, 2026, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding practical, measurable and result-oriented actions to tackle the alarming rise in kidnappings and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s security architecture.

The group expressed disappointment that instead of unveiling a comprehensive security strategy, national discourse has shifted towards constitutional amendments on state police.

According to the DLA, presenting state police as the principal solution to insecurity risks diverting attention from the urgent task of strengthening existing security institutions.

It argued that before creating additional policing structures, the Federal Government must first demonstrate the political will to reform and adequately equip the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.

The alliance noted that the police remain grossly understaffed and underfunded, while many police stations and operational facilities across the country are either dilapidated or have been destroyed.

It also highlighted poor welfare, inadequate equipment, weak intelligence gathering, insufficient logistics and difficult working conditions as major factors limiting the effectiveness of security personnel.

To address these challenges, the DLA called on the Federal Government to recruit more personnel into the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, improve officers’ welfare and remuneration, modernise security operations through technology and intelligence, reconstruct damaged police formations and strengthen operational capacity across the federation.

The group also urged state governments to complement security efforts by implementing economic policies capable of reducing unemployment and criminality.

According to the statement, sustainable security requires investments in quality education, healthcare, rural infrastructure, entrepreneurship support, vocational training and employment opportunities, particularly for young Nigerians.

The DLA maintained that insecurity cannot be defeated through force alone but requires a combination of effective security operations, sound economic policies, social justice, youth empowerment and inclusive development.

It also called for stronger protection of farming communities, stressing that the safety of farmers is directly linked to Nigeria’s food security.

The alliance urged government to adopt lawful and effective measures to reduce violent conflicts, regulate livestock movement in accordance with the law, protect legitimate livelihoods and ensure that no Nigerian is prevented from engaging in lawful farming because of insecurity.

The DLA further expressed concern over what it described as the widening gap between the Federal Government’s optimistic assessment of its performance and the realities facing millions of Nigerians.

It noted that inflation, unemployment, poverty, food insecurity, kidnapping and declining purchasing power continue to worsen, while businesses and rural communities remain under severe pressure due to persistent insecurity.

The organisation also criticised the absence of a clearly defined national strategy for building a science-driven and technology-based economy capable of creating sustainable employment for Nigeria’s growing youth population.
It called for increased investment in research, innovation, manufacturing, renewable energy, industrialisation, digital technology and technical education to drive economic growth and reduce poverty.

The DLA urged President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to prioritise practical governance by recruiting more security personnel, improving welfare and operational conditions, rebuilding police formations, deploying modern intelligence and surveillance technologies, developing a comprehensive anti-kidnapping strategy, protecting farming communities, expanding youth employment programmes and investing in science, technology and industrial development.

The alliance concluded that while constitutional reforms may have their place, they cannot substitute for political will, effective governance, institutional capacity and accountability, insisting that Nigerians deserve leadership that delivers tangible improvements in security, economic opportunity and national development.