By Gloria Fraser, MFR
Atiku Abubakar’s supporters have unveiled what they describe as a “GROUNDBREAKING” plan to transform the Nigeria Police Force from a supposed “colonial-style, regime-protection force” into a “citizen-focused policing system.”
Groundbreaking?
Not so fast.
Strip away the campaign language and some of the centrepieces of Atiku’s proposal are policies that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has already approved or begun implementing.
30,000 POLICE RECRUITS? TINUBU ALREADY APPROVED IT
Atiku promises phased recruitment to increase police numbers.
But President Tinubu has already approved the recruitment of 30,000 police officers annually for several years to close Nigeria’s manpower deficit.
In January 2025 alone, 10,000 newly trained constables were being deployed after six months of training.
So Atiku is not discovering Nigeria’s police manpower shortage in 2026.
Tinubu is already recruiting to address it.
POST OFFICERS TO THEIR HOME STATES? ALREADY HAPPENING
Atiku proposes assigning mid- and lower-level officers closer to their states of residence.
Again, this is presented as revolutionary.
Yet the Nigeria Police announced that the newly trained 10,000 constables would be posted to their states of origin for community policing.
The rationale?
Better local knowledge, intelligence gathering and closer relationships between police and communities.
In other words, one of the policies being advertised as part of Atiku’s 2027 alternative is already operational under Tinubu.
“CITIZEN-FOCUSED POLICING”? THAT TRAIN HAS ALSO LEFT THE STATION
Atiku’s campaign says it will replace “regime-protection” policing with citizen-focused policing.
But President Tinubu has already publicly committed his administration to transforming the Police into a modern, professional and accountable institution, backed by investments in training, technology, intelligence, welfare and institutional reform.
In February 2026, Tinubu went even further: he urged the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to establish State Police, specifically arguing that decentralisation would strengthen grassroots policing and community-focused law enforcement.
That is structural reform—not a campaign hashtag.
AND THE POLICE ACADEMY?
In April 2026, Tinubu approved a new Nigeria Police Academy campus in Ogun State with a ₦15 billion take-off grant, designed to expand training capacity and modern policing education.
If Atiku wants dramatically more officers, Nigerians are entitled to ask:
Where will they be properly trained?
Tinubu is already expanding the institutional capacity required to train a larger police force.
THE BARRACKS ARGUMENT DESERVES MORE SERIOUS THOUGHT
Atiku proposes gradually ending police barracks as the default accommodation system.
This is worth debating.
Some police barracks are disgracefully dilapidated and should never house officers and their families in their present condition.
But abolishing barracks is not automatically synonymous with reform.
Police officers require affordable, secure accommodation. Moving them out without a funded housing allowance, mortgage system or alternative accommodation could simply transfer the housing crisis from deteriorated barracks into Nigeria’s already expensive private rental market.
Tinubu’s approach has instead included improving police accommodation.
Modern police residential facilities containing more than 300 housing units were inaugurated in Kano in 2025, while redevelopment and reconstruction of police barracks have continued elsewhere.
Indeed, in September 2026 the Inspector-General inspected 21 barracks and related redevelopment projects in Lagos, with plans for substantial new accommodation.
The real question should therefore be:
Better barracks, home ownership, housing allowances—or abolition?
Let Atiku provide the costing.
EVEN THE “COLONIAL POLICE” LINE NEEDS A HISTORY LESSON
There is considerable historical truth in saying Nigeria inherited a colonial policing structure.
But Nigeria’s colonial Police Act did not survive until Tinubu.
The Police Act 2020, enacted under President Muhammadu Buhari, repealed the old 1943 colonial legislation.
So describing today’s Police under Tinubu simply as a “colonial-style force” makes a good political slogan, but it obscures reforms that preceded both Tinubu and Atiku’s latest proposal.
Nigeria unquestionably still needs deeper police reform. That is precisely why Tinubu is supporting State Police, expanded recruitment, modern training, technology, intelligence capabilities and improved welfare.
NATIONAL PATRIOTS VERDICT
The National Patriots welcomes Atiku’s interest in police reform.
But repackaging policies already being implemented and announcing them as “groundbreaking” is not groundbreaking policymaking.
Recruit more officers? Tinubu has approved 30,000 annually.
Post officers closer to their home states? Already being implemented for community policing.
Make policing more community-focused?
Already part of the reform direction.
Decentralise policing? Tinubu is pushing constitutionally for State Police.
Expand police training?
A new Police Academy campus and ₦15 billion take-off grant have already been approved.
Improve police welfare and accommodation? Projects are underway.
Atiku’s barracks proposal is genuinely worth discussing—but he must tell Nigerians what replaces them, how much it costs, who pays, and how officers obtain decent accommodation.
Nigeria needs better policing. President Tinubu’s reforms have certainly not solved every problem, and Nigerians are entitled to demand faster results.
But an opposition manifesto should tell Nigerians what it will do differently, not take policies already underway, change their packaging and announce:
“GROUNDBREAKING!!!”
Atiku may have unveiled a new campaign document. He has not unveiled an entirely new policing philosophy.
The most damaging factual point is the home-state posting. Atiku’s document specifically promises something the Police have already been doing: 10,000 constables were assigned to their states of origin for community policing, and the policy was subsequently expanded for newly commissioned officers.
The 30,000 figure is even stronger: Tinubu approved 30,000 police recruits annually for five to six years—essentially the kind of phased manpower expansion Atiku is now presenting as his alternative.
Headlinenews.News Special Investigative Report
