I commend the move to decentralise policing, but we should also decentralise mineral rights–Dickson

According to a report by Daily Post on Monday, June 29, 2026, Seriake Dickson, National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating the process of creating state police across the country.

He described the move as a significant step toward decentralising the nation's policing structure but stressed that the implementation of such a policy should not be rushed.

Dickson made the remarks during an interview on Sunday Politics, a programme aired on Channels Television.

While expressing support for the idea of state police, Dickson advised the Federal Government to slow down the process of putting the new policing structure into effect.

He maintained that although decentralising law enforcement is an important reform, the government should first concentrate on more pressing national security challenges before embarking on its implementation.

According to the former Bayelsa State governor, Nigeria is currently facing serious security threats that require urgent attention.

He stated that combating terrorism, violent crimes, and widespread insecurity should remain the immediate priority of the Tinubu administration.

Dickson argued that directing the government's energy and resources toward addressing these challenges would have a greater impact on the country's stability at this time.

He further stated that the implementation of state police could be handled by the next administration after the groundwork for the policy has been adequately laid.

In his view, such a major constitutional and institutional reform requires careful planning, broad consultations, and sufficient preparation to ensure that it succeeds without creating additional challenges.

Dickson also used the opportunity to advocate for wider constitutional reforms beyond policing.

He said that if the country is committed to decentralisation, other areas of governance should also be reviewed to give states greater control over their resources and responsibilities.

He maintained that meaningful restructuring should not be limited to the security sector alone.

The NDC leader explained that decentralising mineral rights should form part of the broader reform agenda.

He argued that granting states greater authority over their natural resources aligns with the principle of resource control and would contribute to a more balanced federal system.

According to him, reforms in policing and resource management should complement one another as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria's federal structure.

He said, “I commend the move to decentralise policing, but we should also decentralise mineral rights. That’s what we call resource control.”