Senator Rufa’i Sani Hanga of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP, Kano Central) has warned that the Federal Government’s plan to introduce state police and recent withdrawal of security escorts from VIPs could escalate Nigeria’s political and security risks.
Speaking to journalists in Kano on Sunday, Hanga described the policies as “ill-advised, dangerous, and capable of destabilising the polity.” He said Nigeria’s democracy remains fragile despite 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, citing excessive political interference in public institutions. “Governors should allow state assemblies to work; the president should allow the National Assembly to work. Ministers and commissioners should have the independence to discharge their responsibilities,” he said.
Hanga criticised President Bola Tinubu’s directive withdrawing police escorts from VIPs, arguing it exposes lawmakers to public hostility. “The president was ill-advised. If you withdraw security from VIPs, you make them vulnerable, especially members of the National Assembly. We are the most abused people in the country,” he said.
He recounted overhearing a citizen call senators “stupid rubber stamps,” prompting him to quietly leave. Hanga also questioned why wealthy businesspeople, expatriates, and senior officials remain exempted. “If you want to withdraw police, provide an alternative first. Will the president withdraw security from ministers or governors? Let us be fair,” he added.
On the proposed state police, Hanga warned it could be misused by governors to intimidate opponents. “To me, state police is a police state,” he said, citing the Kano emirship dispute as an example of potential conflict escalation. He also raised financial concerns, warning that poorly funded forces could resort to extortion. “You cannot arm people and fail to pay them. They will take care of themselves, and the public will suffer double extortion,” he said.
As a member of the Constitution Amendment Steering Committee, Hanga vowed to resist the proposal, saying, “They can tell legislators to vote for it, but we won’t. We will fish it out. We are the ones to amend the constitution, not governors.” He also expressed frustration as the only NNPP senator, claiming many of his bills on agriculture, flood control, and drug rehabilitation remain stalled, while similar proposals from other lawmakers have received presidential assent. “Four or five universities that came after mine have been approved. Mine is still under the carpet,” he said.
