United States Army veteran and international security expert, Abiodun Oseni, has called for the urgent establishment of state police as a means of stemming the alarming incidences of insecurity in Nigeria.
 
He made the call at the International Security Conference organised by The Institute of Security, Nigeria, in Lagos.
 
With the theme, ‘Expanding Frontiers of Innovations in Security Enhancement and Nation Building in Nigeria,’ the conference focused on the nation’s ongoing security challenges.
 
In his scholarly paper, ‘Delivering Effective Security Service and Neighbourhood Protection Through Innovative Leadership in Lagos State,’ Oseni said the presence of state police in every state of the federation would help strengthen the presence and operational capacity of security operatives in vulnerable areas, improve collaboration with local communities for early warning signals, and enhance rapid response mechanisms to deter and respond to security threats swiftly.
 
He maintained that with effective intelligence gathering, timely intervention, and proactive community engagement, state police would play significant roles in preventing security breaches, which have now become common in the country.
 
Oseni, who was conferred with the Fellowship of The Institute of Security, Nigeria at the event, noted that in the light of the calls for state police, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) was well-positioned to transition into the Lagos State Police.

He explained that this was due to the Corps’ role in the overall security strategy, marked by community involvement and the use of innovative approaches to address insecurity in Lagos State.
  
“As the LNSC transitions into a full-fledged Lagos State Police Force, I recommend that their firearms should not predominantly involve rifles. Instead, semi-automatic handguns should be their primary firearms. This is because rifles will detract from the LNSC’s community policing strategy, and gathering intelligence for citizens will be difficult,” he said.
 
Oseni noted that though schedules revealed that the LNSC’s training programme was comprehensive; it was essential to place significant focus on mandatory annual training for all corps members. He added that the Zero Tolerance for Bribery and Corruption policy must also be strongly enforced.
 
“By adopting and integrating these recommendations into the LNSC’s policy framework, the organisation will maintain its leading position, while others will look to it as a model in professional policing at the state, federal, and international levels,” he said.
 
Among those also honoured with the Distinguished Fellowship Award from the Institute of Security, were Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari (CFR); the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola; Vice Chancellor of Maranatha University, Prof. Rufus Taiwo Akinyele; Lt. Gen. L. Adeosun (rtd.); and Special Adviser on Foreign Relations and Head of Protocol at the Pan African American Chamber of Commerce (PAACC), Olatutu Oladunni.
 
Oseni, who specialises in International Security at the American Military University, was recognised for his outstanding contributions to national security and counterterrorism.