Political commentator and former presidential aide Reno Omokri has argued that Nigeria’s security situation has improved under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging Nigerians to rely on data rather than emotions when assessing the country’s fight against insecurity.
His comments come at a time when security remains one of the country’s most debated issues, with concerns over kidnappings, banditry, communal clashes and violent attacks continuing to dominate national conversations.
Despite these challenges, Omokri believes the overall security picture has improved compared to previous years.
According to him, many public discussions about insecurity are influenced more by political sentiments and viral social media reports than by measurable facts.
“When you focus on facts rather than emotions, the data shows that Nigeria is more secure under President Tinubu than eight years ago, and state police will further improve security,” he said.
Reno Omokri backs the creation of state police
Beyond defending the current administration’s security record, Omokri also expressed strong support for establishing state police across Nigeria.
The proposal has remained one of the country’s most controversial constitutional reforms, with supporters arguing that decentralizing policing would strengthen local security. At the same time, critics fear it could be abused for political purposes.
Omokri maintained that creating state police would improve intelligence gathering and make security agencies more effective.
According to him, crime and security threats vary from one state to another, making a one-size-fits-all policing model increasingly difficult to sustain.
He argued that officers recruited from local communities are often better positioned to understand the terrain, language, culture and security dynamics within their areas of operation.
Security remains a major national issue
Nigeria has continued to battle multiple security challenges across different regions, including terrorism in the North-East, banditry in parts of the North-West, kidnapping-for-ransom across several states, communal violence and attacks on farming communities.
These incidents have fueled growing calls for reforms to the country’s security architecture, with many governors, traditional rulers and civil society groups advocating for state-controlled policing.
Supporters believe decentralizing the police would enable faster emergency responses and strengthen community-based policing.
However, opponents have repeatedly warned that governors could misuse state police for political purposes, especially during elections and periods of political tension.
Debate likely to continue
Omokri’s remarks have added another voice to the ongoing national conversation over Nigeria’s security situation and the future of policing in the country.
While some Nigerians agree that certain security indicators have improved in recent years, others maintain that kidnapping, violent crime and attacks in several parts of the country remain major concerns requiring urgent attention.
As the National Assembly continues considering constitutional amendments that would pave the way for state police, the debate over how best to address Nigeria’s security challenges is expected to remain one of the country’s most important policy discussions.
