Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has stated that Nigeria needs 554,353 additional personnel for the effective take-off of State Police nationwide. This was disclosed during his keynote address at a colloquium marking the posthumous 70th birthday of former Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. Abiodun, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum Committee on State Police, emphasized that the success of the reform depends on a sustainable financing arrangement.
According to Abiodun, data from the Nigeria Governors' Forum shows that, based on the United Nations ratio of one police officer to 414 citizens, Nigeria would need 554,353 additional State Police personnel. This translates to about 184,784 recruits annually over three years. Abiodun stressed that the debate is no longer whether Nigeria needs State Police, but how swiftly and sustainably it can be established. He noted that the country's security challenges have exposed the limitations of the existing arrangement.
Abiodun emphasized that security is intrinsically local and that policing cannot be effective without being close to the people. He stated that State policing is not a threat to unity but the bedrock of stability and prosperity. The governor, who is also a member of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, noted that the financial realities of the states must be addressed before the proposed system can become effective.
Abiodun highlighted that five jurisdictions, including Lagos, Rivers, the Federal Capital Territory, Ogun, and Enugu, account for 61.6% of internally generated revenue. However, 76% of states generate below the national average of N13,600 per capita, while half of the states earn less than N6,334 per capita. He warned that these disparities could undermine the reform unless a financing mechanism is established to guarantee a minimum policing capacity across the federation.
To address the financing challenges, Abiodun advocated for a constitutional State Police Take-Off Fund based on equal-access grants, need-based top-ups, and standards-linked disbursements. He stressed that security should not depend on the financial strength of the state in which a citizen resides. The governor also outlined eight fundamentals for the State Police architecture, including a clear legal framework, professional recruitment and training, and personnel welfare.
Abiodun emphasized the need for transparent and sustainable funding arrangements, proper equipment, medical care, insurance, and reliable support for police families. He also advocated for secure communications, coordinated databases, surveillance, and reliable emergency reporting systems to improve intelligence gathering and response. The governor stressed that technology must operate within the law, with safeguards for privacy and accountable access to information.
Abiodun concluded that the proposed system is not designed to abolish the Nigeria Police Force but to establish a multi-tier policing structure. Under the arrangement, the Federal Police would focus on national security, inter-state crime, and counter-terrorism, while State Police would handle intra-state law enforcement, community intelligence, and crime prevention. The governor linked the reform to Nigeria's economic prospects, arguing that insecurity can have negative impacts on the economy.
Key points
- Nigeria needs 554,353 additional personnel for effective State Police take-off.
- The success of State Police depends on sustainable financing arrangement.
- State Police will handle intra-state law enforcement, community intelligence, and crime prevention.
