A former Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has stated that governors can fix insecurity in Nigeria by taking decisive local action rather than relying on federal intervention. Speaking against the backdrop of recurring violence in parts of the country, he said the responsibility for addressing insecurity rests significantly with state leadership and local structures, making the issue a matter of governance and coordination across Nigeria.
Nigeria has continued to face security challenges across multiple regions, including recent attacks in Plateau State and incidents in Kaduna State. These developments have intensified national discussions on the effectiveness of existing security frameworks and the roles of federal and state authorities. Owoseni, who has served in states such as Lagos State and Benue State, argued that insecurity is not solely a structural issue but also one linked to leadership gaps and inadequate local engagement. He noted that repeated incidents indicate that “something must be missing” in current approaches to securing communities.
According to Owoseni, governors can fix insecurity by strengthening intelligence systems and improving collaboration with local populations. He emphasized that technology alone cannot address security challenges without “highly resourced boots on the ground,” referring to personnel actively engaged within communities. He stressed the importance of public trust, stating that communities play a central role through human intelligence. Without confidence in security institutions, citizens may be less willing to provide critical information needed to prevent attacks.
Owoseni also rejected the notion that governors are incapacitated by Nigeria’s security structure. He maintained that state leaders already possess the authority and tools required to act, urging them to conduct threat assessments and deploy available resources effectively. On broader strategy, he said Nigeria must adopt homegrown solutions instead of relying on external models. He highlighted the role of traditional institutions and local stakeholders, noting that a “whole society approach” is necessary to address complex security challenges.
Owoseni’s position reinforces ongoing debates about decentralised security and the responsibilities of subnational governments. His assertion that governors can fix insecurity places emphasis on accountability at the state level and may influence policy discussions on state policing, intelligence gathering, and community-based security models.
The remarks also suggest a shift toward locally driven solutions, which could impact coordination between federal and state authorities and reshape how security resources are deployed nationwide.
