Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has emphasized the need for urgent recruitment of 554,353 officers to staff the proposed State Police system in Nigeria. Abiodun made this statement while delivering the keynote address at a colloquium held in honor of the late former Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State. The event was organized to mark Akeredolu's posthumous 70th birthday and had the theme, "Fundamentals and Governance of State Policing: Towards a New Architecture for National Security in Nigeria."
According to Abiodun, the debate over State Police has moved beyond advocacy and has become a national necessity. However, he warned that the success of the reform would depend on how it was funded, especially to ensure that poorer states were not left behind. Abiodun cited data from the Nigeria Governors' Forum, which showed that Nigeria would need 554,353 additional State Police personnel based on the United Nations recommendation of one police officer for every 414 citizens.
Abiodun argued that Nigeria could no longer operate a security system where most policing responsibilities were controlled from Abuja. He emphasized that security is local because police officers need to understand the language, people, and terrain of the communities they serve. Abiodun stated that "State policing is not a threat to unity; it is the bedrock of stability and prosperity." He also noted that differences in the financial strength of states could create problems for the proposed system.
The Ogun governor called for the establishment of a constitutional State Police Take-Off Fund to provide equal access grants, additional funding based on need, and payments linked to agreed standards. Abiodun also said the Presidential Working Group was already working on plans covering recruitment, training, funding, accountability, and legislative oversight for the proposed State Police system. He stressed that recruitment must be transparent and properly screened, while officers must receive training in investigations, evidence handling, and conflict management.
Abiodun warned against political interference in policing, stating that political opponents, journalists, peaceful protesters, and minority communities must receive equal protection under the law. He also called for better welfare for police personnel, including regular salaries, proper equipment, medical care, insurance, and support for their families. Abiodun emphasized that private individuals and organizations must not be allowed to use financial contributions to influence police investigations or secure preferential treatment.
The governor described State Police as not only a security strategy but also an important economic strategy for Nigeria. He argued that investors would be reluctant to invest in an unsafe environment, while farmers would struggle to access their farms and infrastructure projects would not deliver their full benefits where insecurity remained a problem. Abiodun credited Akeredolu with helping to move the State Police debate from theory to practical action, recalling the late governor's role in the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, in January 2020.
Other speakers at the event, including Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, paid tribute to Akeredolu, describing him as a courageous leader who stood firmly for justice and a more decentralized security system. The Director-General of the DAWN Commission, Seye Oyeleye, said the discussion should now move from celebrating Akeredolu's legacy to implementing State Police, adding that the major questions were now how State Police would be funded, trained, equipped, and regulated, as well as how it would be protected from political abuse.
Key points
- Nigeria needs 554,353 additional State Police personnel based on the United Nations recommendation of one police officer for every 414 citizens.
- The success of State Police reform depends on how it is funded, especially to ensure that poorer states are not left behind.
- Abiodun calls for the establishment of a constitutional State Police Take-Off Fund to provide equal access grants and additional funding based on need.
