US Based Nigerian Writes Tinubu, Urges Him To Tackle Insecurity In Nigeria

A United States based Nigerian and Deputy Sheriff, retd. Dr. John Egbo, has urged President Bola Tinubu, to adopt urgent measures for border, policing and private security regulation.

He said, “As the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly concludes, global discussions have once again highlighted the urgency of strengthening border security and immigration control.

“For Nigeria, these issues are not abstract policy debates but lived realities,” he noted.

He added that the persistence of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and communal unrest underscores the fragility of national security.

According to him, despite the Federal Government’s investment in counterterrorism operations and border patrols, Nigeria’s porous borders and overstretched police force remained vulnerable.

Egbo said criminal networks continue to exploit forests, rural communities, and unguarded entry points for illegal arms smuggling, human trafficking, and coordinated attacks.

Failure to act swiftly, he observed, undermined both citizen confidence and Nigeria’s international reputation as a regional leader.

“On porous borders, we have unregulated movement of people, arms, and contraband across Nigeria’s northern and western borders and Nigeria’s single, federally controlled police structure is overstretched and unable to provide community-tailored security.

“Bandits and terrorists continue to operate in forests with little resistance while thousands of police officers are deployed to protect VIPs and private interests, reducing manpower available for general public security.

“The growing reliance on informal or unregulated private security companies creates risks of abuse, weak oversight, and underutilization of potential resources,” Egbo said.

He, however, called for establishment of State Police through constitutional and legislative processes, revealing that decentralized policing enables tailored, community-driven responses to local security threats.Implementation

“Pilot program in 5–7 states by mid-2026 before nationwide rollout as well as training and Arming of Forest Guards. Establish a National Forest Guard Service under the Ministry of Interior, with specialized training in bush combat, surveillance, and intelligence gathering.

“Forests remain safe havens for kidnappers and terrorists; securing them cuts off operational bases for criminals. Recruit and deploy first battalion of guards by early 2026 and ensure private security regulation and integration.

“This office will be License and training private security firms.Standardize weapons handling, communication systems, and reporting lines and collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to share intelligence,” he suggested.

According to him, A well-regulated private security sector supplements national law enforcement and reduces police diversion to VIP.

He also called for gradual withdrawal of police officers from VIP protection duties and reassign them to community policing and public patrols, stressing that in advanced democracies, VIPs rely on private security, freeing state police for public service.