Jul 31, 2026

Senator Dickson: Prioritise Police First or National Security Will Remain Broken Forever

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in politics

👁️ loading views...

In a timely intervention on Nigeria’s deepening security challenges, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson has renewed his call for a carefully calibrated approach to policing reforms, emphasizing that sustainable national security cannot be achieved without prioritizing and rebuilding the Nigerian Police.

The former Bayelsa State Governor and current Senator representing Bayelsa West made the remarks after co-chairing the 6th Anniversary Public Lecture of the First Daily National Dialogue on Security, held on July 28, 2026, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

The high-profile gathering brought together two former Chiefs of Defence Staff—Generals Lucky Irabor and Martin Luther Agwai (retd)—a former Inspector-General of Police, representatives of security agencies, governors’ aides, traditional rulers, legal practitioners, and other stakeholders.

Police at the Heart of National Security

Dickson, a self-described committed federalist, stressed that the police must be placed at the forefront of the national security discourse.

He argued that the increasing deployment of the military for internal security duties stems from the weakening of Nigeria’s primary internal security institutions.

“The military’s primary responsibility is territorial integrity. Internal security was only meant to be a subsidiary mandate, but it has now become the main focus because the military is deployed everywhere,” he noted, warning that the armed forces are overstretched and diverted from their core constitutional role.

On the ongoing debate around state police, Dickson advocated a cautious, staged devolution of policing powers.

He proposed beginning with devolution to the zonal level, followed by transfer to local government areas once ongoing local government reforms are completed, with states coordinating local policing operations.

This phased approach, he argued, would help avoid the pitfalls of abrupt decentralization while still advancing true federalism.

Broader Calls for Reform

The dialogue, themed “Declaration of State of Emergency on Security: Matching Words with Action,” saw broad consensus on the need for urgent reforms.

Former Defence Chief Lucky Irabor, who delivered the keynote address, called for increased funding for security agencies, the development of Nigeria’s military-industrial complex, and the establishment of state police structured according to global best practices with strong accountability mechanisms.

Other participants, including representatives of Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, backed giving governors greater operational control over security in their states, noting that they are often held accountable by citizens despite lacking direct authority over the police.

The event was convened by First Daily Publisher Dr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Dickson’s former Commissioner for Information in Bayelsa.

Dickson congratulated him for creating a non-partisan platform for solution-driven conversations and thanked Bayelsa leaders and other attendees for their presence, stressing the importance of mutual support rather than division at a time when Nigeria needs more voices at the national level.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence, the dialogue underscored that military solutions alone are insufficient.

Stakeholders agreed that lasting progress requires stronger internal security institutions, better intelligence, increased funding, constitutional reforms, and active citizen participation.

Dickson’s measured federalist stance—prioritizing the police while advancing careful devolution—adds a practical voice to the national conversation at a critical moment when both chambers of the National Assembly have advanced constitutional amendment bills on state police.

The challenge now lies in translating these high-level discussions into concrete, implementable policies that restore security and public confidence across the country.