State police bill will address Nigeria’s security concerns — Rep Odidiomo

Oyo State representative on the House Committee on Constitution Review, Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide, has described the passage of the constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police as a landmark step towards addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges through a more responsive and decentralised policing framework.

Olajide, who is also the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) candidate for the Oyo South senatorial district in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, stated this while reacting to the consideration and passage of the constitutional amendment proposal by the House of Representatives under the Constitution Review process chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu.

The proposal seeks to create a constitutional framework for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to decentralise policing and improve security across the federation. 

The federal lawmaker, representing Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West federal constituency, said the development is part of ongoing efforts by the National Assembly to improve the country’s security architecture and further promote the nation’s federal system.

According to him, the existing centralised policing structure has become increasingly overstretched in the face of emerging security threats, including kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, armed robbery, and other violent crimes confronting various parts of the country.

Olajide noted that the proposed state police framework would enhance local intelligence gathering, improve response time to security threats and empower sub-national governments to play a more active role in protecting lives and property within their jurisdictions.

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“The security challenges confronting our nation require innovative, practical and locally responsive solutions. The passage of the state police bill by the House of Representatives represents a necessary step towards reinforcing internal security and ensuring that communities are better protected,” he said.

The lawmaker observed that many advanced federal democracies operate decentralized policing systems with varying levels of state, provincial, or local police structures working alongside federal law enforcement agencies.

He cited the example of the United States, where policing responsibilities are shared among federal, state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies, allowing security institutions to respond more effectively to local realities and peculiar challenges.

According to him, the proposed Nigerian model contains safeguards designed to prevent abuse while promoting accountability, professionalism, and operational efficiency, while the framework includes oversight mechanisms, state police service commissions, and provisions for federal intervention in cases of abuse or threats to national security.

Olajide called on the Senate to accord the proposal accelerated consideration and concurrence in view of the urgent security realities facing the country.

“I urge our distinguished senators to give this constitutional amendment the attention and urgency it deserves. Nigerians have waited for this reform for many years, and the time has come to take decisive action in the interest of national security,” he stated. 

Speaking on the readiness of the states to take up the challenge ahead of state police, Hon. Olajide expressed optimism that Oyo State, as a case study, is well positioned to become one of the leading beneficiaries of the proposed reform when eventually enacted.

He noted that the state already possesses many of the institutional and administrative structures required to support an effective state police system.

According to him, the Oyo State House of Assembly has consistently demonstrated legislative capacity and would be prepared to act expeditiously whenever the constitutional amendment is transmitted to state legislatures for ratification.

“As a state, we have shown commitment to innovative governance, security collaboration and institutional development. I have no doubt that Oyo State will be among the leading states in implementing this reform when it becomes law,” he added.

On the long-awaited issue of state creation taking the front burner in the constitution amendment exercise, the lawmaker expressed confidence that the agitation for Ibadan state will eventually see the light of the day as it remains one of the highly favoured proposals placed before the committee. 

He said the agitation for Ibadan State has matured beyond mere political aspiration into a legitimate constitutional demand hinged on equity, administrative convenience, economic viability and the desire to bring governance closer to the people. He therefore called on all stakeholders to rally support for the proposal as the amendment process progresses.