Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has expressed optimism that all 36 State Houses of Assembly will approve the constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police, citing the broad national consensus and extensive stakeholder consultations that have shaped the proposed legislation.
Abiodun made this known while speaking at the Arise Television Town Hall Meeting on State Policing, where he commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for transmitting the Executive Bill on the creation of state police to the National Assembly.
The governor also praised members of the National Assembly, state governors and other stakeholders for their commitment to advancing what he described as a historic constitutional reform aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
As Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Committee on State Police Creation, Abiodun said the committee had worked closely with governors across the federation and relevant stakeholders to develop a robust operational and legal framework for the proposed state police system.
According to him, the establishment of state police would strengthen community policing, improve intelligence gathering, boost internal security and create employment opportunities through the recruitment of additional security personnel.
He added that the initiative would also help improve Nigeria’s police-to-citizen ratio while ensuring professionalism, accountability and adequate protection of the rights of all Nigerians.
Governor Abiodun expressed confidence that the widespread support already garnered for the proposal would translate into simultaneous approval by all 36 State Houses of Assembly once the constitutional amendment is transmitted for ratification.
He maintained that with effective implementation and strong institutional safeguards, the establishment of state police would significantly enhance security across the country and complement the efforts of existing federal security agencies in tackling crime and maintaining law and order.