By Our Correspondent
ABEOKUTA — Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has expressed optimism that all 36 State Houses of Assembly will simultaneously approve the constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police, describing the initiative as a historic reform capable of reshaping Nigeria’s security architecture and strengthening grassroots policing.
Speaking during an Arise Television Town Hall Meeting on state policing, the governor said the proposal had achieved an unprecedented level of national consensus, noting that the broad support from the Federal Government, the National Assembly, governors and other critical stakeholders reflected the urgent need for a more decentralised and effective policing system.
Abiodun commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for transmitting the Executive Bill on state police to the National Assembly, describing June 24, 2026, as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic and security history. He also praised the Senate for giving the bill prompt consideration, saying the current progress represents the closest Nigeria has come to actualising the long-discussed idea of state policing.
"I want to thank Arise TV for organising this very important town hall meeting on a matter that has now become a national consensus. One of the few subjects in Nigeria that enjoys such broad national acceptance is the creation of state police," the governor said.
Abiodun, who chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Committee on State Police Creation, revealed that governors across the federation played an active role in the conceptualisation and drafting of the proposed legislation, working closely with state Attorneys-General, the executive arm and the National Assembly to produce a bill that reflects the aspirations and security needs of Nigerians.
According to him, the extensive collaboration explains the widespread confidence that the constitutional amendment will enjoy overwhelming support when it is transmitted to the various state legislatures for ratification.
He noted that although governors are constitutionally recognised as the Chief Security Officers of their respective states, they have historically exercised little operational control over policing despite committing substantial financial resources to logistics, personnel welfare and security operations within their states.
"The bill has our input, and we are excited because what we are seeing today is the fulfilment of a dream we have nurtured for many years. It validates our long-standing advocacy for community policing," he said.
The governor argued that state police would build upon the successes already recorded by regional and state-backed security initiatives, particularly the South-West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, which he said has significantly complemented the efforts of conventional security agencies through intelligence gathering, rapid response and stronger community engagement.
He observed that similar outfits across the country have demonstrated the effectiveness of locally driven security arrangements that are more familiar with the terrain, culture and peculiar security challenges of their communities.
Abiodun further stated that the establishment of state police would substantially improve Nigeria's police-to-population ratio while creating thousands of employment opportunities across the federation.
According to him, Nigeria currently has an estimated ratio of one police officer to about 660 citizens, far below the United Nations recommendation of one officer to 440 citizens and the global benchmark of one officer to 250 citizens.
Using Ogun State as an illustration, he disclosed that the state currently has approximately 6,000 personnel serving in Amotekun, the So-Safe Corps, vigilante organisations and other complementary security agencies.
He said replicating similar structures across all 36 states could immediately add between 300,000 and 400,000 trained security personnel nationwide, significantly enhancing intelligence gathering, crime prevention and rapid emergency response.
Explaining the legal framework, the governor said the constitutional amendment seeks to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby granting states the constitutional authority to establish, fund and manage their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
Abiodun expressed confidence that the extensive consultations undertaken during the drafting stage would ensure a seamless ratification process by state legislatures across the country.
He, however, cautioned that constitutional approval would only mark the beginning of the reform process, stressing that considerable institutional and legal work would still be required before state police could become fully operational.
According to him, consequential amendments would have to be made to the existing Police Act, while certain provisions may require repeal to align the country's legal framework with the new constitutional arrangement.
The governor added that attention would subsequently shift to developing comprehensive operational guidelines that would clearly define the structure of state police, its relationship with the Nigeria Police Force, command responsibilities, accountability mechanisms and safeguards against political interference.
He also identified sustainable funding arrangements, recruitment standards, professional training, discipline, operational procedures and the establishment of independent institutions such as State Police Councils and Police Service Commissions as critical components of the implementation framework.
Abiodun maintained that these measures would guarantee professionalism, transparency and respect for the rule of law while ensuring that state police effectively complements the national police in tackling insecurity across the country.
He expressed confidence that, once fully implemented, the proposed policing system would strengthen community policing, improve public safety, deepen intelligence-driven security operations and enhance the protection of lives and property in every part of Nigeria.
