By Our Reporter
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, 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 move as a major milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s internal security framework.
Speaking at an Arise Television Town Hall Meeting on state policing, Governor Abiodun said the proposal had gained rare nationwide acceptance, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for transmitting the Executive Bill to the National Assembly and applauding lawmakers and stakeholders for advancing the legislative process.
The governor described June 24, 2026, as a historic day in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, noting that it marked the transmission of the Executive Bill on state police to the National Assembly and its prompt consideration by the Senate.
Abiodun, who chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Committee on State Police Creation, said governors played a key role in drafting the bill, reflecting the commitment of sub-national governments to addressing the country’s security challenges.
According to him, although governors are constitutionally recognised as Chief Security Officers of their states, they have had limited authority over policing despite providing substantial logistical and financial support to security agencies.
He disclosed that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum constituted a committee of governors and state Attorneys-General to work with both the executive and legislative arms of government in developing the proposed legislation.
“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,” Abiodun said.
The governor noted that the proposed state police system would build on the successes recorded by regional security outfits, including the South-West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, which he said has effectively complemented conventional policing through intelligence gathering and community engagement.
He added that the creation of state police would significantly improve Nigeria’s police-to-population ratio while creating thousands of employment opportunities across the country’s 774 local government areas.
Abiodun observed that Nigeria currently has approximately one police officer to every 660 citizens, compared to the United Nations recommendation of one officer to 440 citizens and the global average of one officer to 250 citizens.
Using Ogun State as an example, he said the state currently has about 6,000 security personnel across Amotekun, the So-Safe Corps, vigilante groups and other security outfits. Replicating similar structures across the 36 states, he said, could immediately add between 300,000 and 400,000 security personnel nationwide.
The governor explained that the constitutional amendment seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby empowering states to establish and manage their own police services.
He expressed confidence that, given the extensive consultations and broad involvement of governors in the drafting process, all state legislatures would consider and pass the constitutional amendment simultaneously once it is transmitted to them.
Abiodun, however, noted that passing the constitutional amendment would only be the beginning of the reform process.
He explained that further legal adjustments, including amendments or repeal of relevant sections of the existing Police Act, would be required to align with the new constitutional framework.
The governor added that the next phase would involve developing the operational structure for state police, including defining its relationship with the Nigeria Police Force, funding mechanisms, oversight institutions, recruitment procedures, training standards, and safeguards to prevent abuse of power.
He maintained that these measures would ensure that state police operate professionally, effectively, and in accordance with the rule of law while enhancing security and protecting the rights of all Nigerians.
