Afenifere seeks concurrent list for state police, backs Tinubu’s reform drive

THE pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Thursday called on the National Assembly to place policing on the Concurrent Legislative List, insisting that the proposed State Police should not operate as an extension of the Federal Government.

The group said genuine state policing would only be achieved if states were granted constitutional powers to establish and manage their own police outfits without excessive federal control.

The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Afenifere Caucus Meeting held at the Akure residence of the organisation’s leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi.

The meeting, attended by delegates from Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Kwara and Kogi states, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for transmitting the State Police Bill to the National Assembly.

Afenifere also lauded the National Assembly for moving to give the bill expeditious consideration but expressed concern that some provisions of the proposed legislation could undermine the independence of state police.

According to the group, certain clauses in the bill appear to make the proposed state police appendages of the Federal Government instead of autonomous security institutions capable of addressing local security challenges.

“Afenifere maintained that what the National Assembly and the State Houses of Assembly need to do is to place policing on the Concurrent Legislative List,” the communiqué stated.

The organisation argued that decentralising policing would strengthen security architecture across the country and enable states to respond more effectively to rising cases of kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes.

The group also renewed its call on governors of Yoruba-speaking states, including Kogi and Kwara, to adopt more decisive measures to tackle insecurity threatening lives, livelihoods and free movement across the region.

ALSO READ: US withdraws most troops from Nigeria’s Lake Chad operation

While reaffirming its longstanding advocacy for restructuring, Afenifere noted that the establishment of an effective state police system remains a critical component of true federalism and national development.

The organisation expressed optimism that further constitutional reforms by the Tinubu administration would help reposition Nigeria on the path of sustainable peace, security and progress.

On the political climate ahead of the 2027 general elections, Afenifere appealed to politicians to conduct their campaigns peacefully and shun violence, thuggery and character assassination.