The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has expressed confidence that all the 36 State Houses of Assembly will simultaneously approve the constitutional amendment bill seeking the creation of state police.
Penpushing reports that Abiodun expressed optimism while speaking at an Arise Television Town Hall Meeting on state policing describing the initiative as a landmark step towards strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
The Governor explained that the proposal had attained an unprecedented national consensus, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for transmitting the Executive Bill to the National Assembly and applauding lawmakers and other stakeholders for advancing the legislation.
Penpushing further reports that he described June 24, 2026, as a historic day in Nigeria’s democratic journey, pointing out that it marked the transmission of the Executive Bill on state police to the National Assembly and its swift consideration by the Senate.
The governor stated that previous administrations had attempted to establish state police without success, making the current progress particularly significant, and equally appreciated the town hall meeting
“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’, he said.
Penpushing also reports that Abiodun, who chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Committee on State Police Creation, said governors across the country had played a central role in shaping the bill, reflecting the importance sub-national governments attach to the initiative.
The governor explained that although governors are constitutionally regarded as the Chief Security Officers of their states, they have historically exercised limited control over policing despite bearing much of the financial responsibility for supporting police operations.
Penpushing reports that Abiodun disclosed that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum constituted a committee comprising governors and state Attorneys-General to work closely with the executive and legislative arms of government in developing the bill.
“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.
Penpushing further reports that he said the proposed state police structure would build on the successes recorded by existing regional security outfits such as the South-West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, which he noted had effectively complemented conventional policing through intelligence gathering and community engagement.
The governor stated that the establishment of state police would immediately improve Nigeria’s police-to-citizen ratio while creating employment opportunities across the country’s 774 local government areas.
Penpushing also reports that Abiodun observed that Nigeria currently has an estimated ratio of one police officer to about 660 citizens, compared to the United Nations (UN) benchmark of one officer to 440 citizens and the global standard of one officer to 250 citizens.
The governor using Ogun State as an example, said the state currently has about 6,000 personnel spread across Amotekun, So-Safe Corps, vigilante groups and other security outfits, adding that similar structures across the 36 states could instantly provide between 300,000 and 400,000 additional security personnel nationwide.
Penpushing reports that he explained that the constitutional amendment seeks to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby empowering states to establish their own police services.
The governor expressed optimism that, because of the extensive consultations and involvement of governors in the drafting process, all state legislatures would consider and pass the amendment simultaneously once it is transmitted to them.
Penpushing further reports that Abiodun looking beyond the constitutional amendment, stressed that significant work remained in operationalising the new policing framework, adding that consequential amendments would be required to either amend or repeal the existing Police Act to accommodate the new constitutional order.
The governor stated that the next phase would involve establishing the operational framework for state police, including defining its structure, relationship with the national police, oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse, funding arrangements, training standards, and the establishment of appropriate institutions such as police councils and police service commissions.
Penpushing also reports that he maintained that these measures would ensure that state police functions effectively, professionally and in line with the objectives of enhancing security and safeguarding the rights of Nigerians.
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