Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun believes all 36 state legislatures will pass the constitutional amendment for state police at the same time. He views this move as a critical development for national security. During an Arise Television town hall, Abiodun noted that this proposal reflects a rare national consensus.
The Governor, who leads the Nigeria Governors’ Forum committee on this issue, praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sending the bill to the National Assembly. Abiodun highlighted that governors helped draft the legislation, marking the realization of a long-term goal. He argued that while governors are currently designated as Chief Security Officers, they have lacked direct control over law enforcement despite funding their operations.
By shifting policing to the Concurrent Legislative List, the bill allows states to create their own forces. Abiodun pointed to the success of regional outfits like Amotekun as proof of the model’s viability. He noted that establishing state police could address the current officer-to-citizen gap, potentially adding up to 400,000 personnel nationwide. Following the constitutional changes, the next steps involve creating operational guidelines, funding structures, and oversight mechanisms to ensure the new forces function professionally.
