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The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, has advocated for the creation of state police to address the escalating insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday in Ibadan, Ogundoyin pointed out that the prevailing insecurity poses a significant threat to the nation's economic growth.
He cited statistics indicating that around 700,000 lives have been lost as a result of various forms of insecurity, including insurgency and clashes between farmers and herders.
“The loss of 700,000 lives is not only shocking but also a tragedy; we must recognize that the government's primary responsibility is to protect lives and property. When the government fails to ensure this security, it is failing in its core duty,” he commented.
He suggested that granting more security responsibilities to states could mitigate some of Nigeria’s security challenges. Ogundoyin, who serves as the chairman of the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria, noted that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is overwhelmed with its current obligations.
He mentioned that the Conference of Speakers has endorsed the push for state police, supporting the NPF's ongoing efforts to address crime and criminal activity. “I believe that the current administration and the National Assembly are moving towards establishing state police,” he expressed.
Ogundoyin advised citizens who worry that state governors might misuse state police for political gain to consider that a proper legal framework and policies could prevent such misuse.
“While we acknowledge the risk of mismanaging state police, we should not reject the idea based on individual interests. There can be structured hierarchies and operational modes to ensure checks and balances.
The success of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) known as 'Amotekun' demonstrates that state police can be effective,” he stated.
Furthermore, Ogundoyin mentioned that the Oyo State House of Assembly supports financial autonomy for local governments, addressing public demands.
However, he warned that the issues leading to the initial establishment of the joint account must be resolved prior to fully implementing financial autonomy to prevent complications.
