A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Monday Ubani, says the problem of insecurity will continue to persist in Nigeria if the local government administration is not empowered to function effectively.

Arguing in favour of establishing state police, a pressing issue in national discourse, Ubani, a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, stated that insecurity can only be effectively addressed at the local level.

Responding to concerns that state police might be abused by governors, the senior lawyer stressed the need for a legal framework to prevent such misuse.

He said, “People keep talking about rejigging the (security) architecture, allowing state police and all that – how can we be arguing forth and back about that? I agree that the issue of abuse may come in because some of the governors are not mentally okay when you give them power and you have to be careful with that.

“And that is why we said in the legal framework, we must put it in a manner that it will avoid abuse. If there is any likelihood of abuse then the federal police will come in. You can never have security in Nigeria if Nigerians do not allow local government administration to operate effectively.”

According to Ubani, those in power know what needs to be done to end insecurity but have failed to act because they are benefitting from the ongoing chaos.

“If we properly police our local governments, tell me where you will begin to hear about insecurity, where is it going to come from?

“They know what to do but they are benefitting from the lapses, they are benefitting from the rot that is going on and that is why they don’t want to address it,” he said.

He lamented that despite numerous amendments, the 1999 Constitution still falls short in addressing key issues, expressing support for those calling for a constitutional conference to draft a new constitution rather than continuing with constant amendments.