…Diaspora Nigerian, Oshoniyi, seeks speedy implementation

The Southwest Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG) has urged President Bola Tinubu to expedite action on the State Police Bill following its passage by the National Assembly, warning that delays in operationalising the reform could prolong the country’s security challenges.

The group made the call on Monday after an extraordinary meeting at Oodua House, Ikeja, Lagos, where it also urged the six Southwest governors and their respective Houses of Assembly to begin preparations for the implementation of state policing.

In a separate intervention, a Nigerian in the Diaspora, Dr Femi Oshoniyi, also called for speedy establishment of state police, describing decentralised policing as a more effective and sustainable response to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Oshoniyi said the decision by the Tinubu administration to pursue state police offered the country an opportunity to overhaul its security architecture and develop policing systems capable of responding more effectively to local threats.

The draft executive bill and implementation framework are scheduled for presentation to the President on September 3, while the proposed constitutional amendment requires approval by at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly.

The SSSG, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Ireti Adewole, said although insecurity had not reached alarming levels in the Southwest in recent months, the region could not afford to become complacent.

It said communities in parts of the North and Middle Belt continued to face serious security threats, underscoring the need for a comprehensive and decentralised policing structure.

“The Southwest, parts of the South-South and Southeast, the North and even the Middle Belt are not yet free from disturbing criminal activities, including armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and other forms of violence that threaten the peace and development of our communities.

“This situation calls for a united front and proactive measures from all stakeholders, government at all levels, security agencies, traditional institutions and civil society groups,” the group said.

The stakeholders warned that further delay in implementing state police would amount to a disservice to Nigerians who continue to bear the consequences of insecurity.

They described the State Police Bill as potentially transformative to Nigeria’s security architecture because it would allow states to establish police forces capable of responding to localised security threats.

“Yet, despite the bill’s passage by the National Assembly, its implementation remains sluggish and uncertain,” the group said.

It therefore demanded clarity from the Federal Government, state governments and state Houses of Assembly on the status of the reform and the progress made towards its implementation.

“The people of the Southwest deserve clear answers and tangible actions,” the group said.

Beyond the legislative process, the SSSG urged Southwest governors to prioritise enabling legislation, budgetary provisions and institutional structures required for the smooth take-off of state police.

It also called for deeper collaboration between state governments, the SSSG and other community-based security organisations, arguing that their local knowledge and grassroots presence could strengthen intelligence gathering and rapid response.

The group said such collaboration could support the development of technology-driven and community-based security strategies tailored to the peculiar security challenges of the region.

“The time for rhetoric has passed. The people of the Southwest demand and deserve peace, security and development. The SSSG stands ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to achieve these goals. However, this requires commitment, transparency and urgency from our leaders and institutions,” it added.

The SSSG, led by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, comprises several community and security-oriented organisations, including the Oodua People’s Congress, Agbekoya Society, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Professional Hunters Association, Odua Warriors, Agbekoya Peace Movement, Agbekoya Solidarity Movement, COMSAIC, Isokan Ile Oodua, Egbe Obinrin Oodua Agbaye, Omo Oduduwa United, Yoruba People’s Congress and Yoruba Self-defence Group.

Oshoniyi, who also backed the speedy implementation of state police, said decentralised policing could provide more effective security monitoring, reporting, communication and identification systems.

According to him, local police officers would be better positioned to understand their communities, identify suspicious activities and track criminals.

“State police provide an effective security monitoring system, effective reporting system, lower operational cost system, more effective communication and identification system, with local staff members knowing themselves and tracking criminals to make security more effective,” he said.

He added that state police could improve area monitoring and security coverage, particularly through the deployment of technology such as body cameras and segmented policing systems.

Oshoniyi, however, acknowledged that not all states might have the capacity to establish and sustain effective police forces because of weak leadership, poor accountability and limited financial resources.

He warned that disparities in the capacity of states could result in uneven policing standards across the country.

He nevertheless argued that appropriate legal and institutional safeguards could address some of the challenges.
“Where the correct internally generated revenue (IGR) is available, and the states are more empowered and better funded, state policing becomes the responsibility of the state government’s funding capacity,” he said.

Oshoniyi also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future and said many Nigerians in the Diaspora were willing to return and contribute to national development.

“So I see hope rising, and most Diasporas are ready to return home to contribute towards building a better Nigeria,” he said.