Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, has expressed concern about the adequacy of Nigeria’s security personnel. He recalled that during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, the country had a population of more than 200 million people but fewer than 200,000 policemen, highlighting what he described as a significant gap between the population and the available security forces.According to a report published by Daily Trust on Friday, August 28, 2026, Atiku made the remarks while discussing Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
He said successive governments had not given adequate attention to the country’s defense and security needs, even as the population continued to grow and security challenges spread across several parts of the country.The former vice president was explaining his position on Nigeria’s security situation and argued that the country requires a stronger and more comprehensive security structure.
Such a structure, he said, should be capable of responding effectively to Nigeria’s large population, addressing widespread insecurity, and meeting the demands placed on security agencies in different regions.Recounting conditions during his time in government under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku said he had raised concerns about the country’s limited police presence. “I remember when we were in office, I told the president that, look, we are over 200 million people and yet we have less than 200,000 policemen,” he stated.
Atiku cited the figures to underscore what he regarded as a serious shortage of security personnel, arguing that the available number of police officers was inadequate to protect Nigeria’s large population and respond effectively to its growing security needs. He said the shortfall placed additional pressure on law enforcement and made it more difficult to address insecurity across the country’s various regions.
Atiku further compared Nigeria with Egypt, noting that the North African country had a population of about 80 million but maintained one million policemen on the streets. He connected that broader police presence with the relative peace he said prevailed in Egypt at the time, using the comparison to illustrate how stronger security coverage could contribute to public safety and stability.In his concluding remarks, Atiku said he was confident that Nigeria could bring insurgency and insecurity under control within one year if appropriate measures were implemented.
He maintained that improved security arrangements, including a sufficient number of personnel and a more effective structure for responding to threats, would help address the challenges confronting citizens across the country.
Discover more from Headline Hub
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
