State Police Gains Nationwide Support, Says Abiodun

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has expressed confidence that all the 36 State Houses of Assembly will simultaneously approve the constitutional amendment bill seeking the creation of state police, describing the initiative as a landmark step towards strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture.

Speaking at an Arise Television Town Hall Meeting on state policing, Governor Abiodun said the proposal had attained an unprecedented national consensus, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for transmitting the Executive Bill to the National Assembly and applauding lawmakers and other stakeholders for advancing the legislation.

He described June 24, 2026, as a historic day in Nigeria’s democratic journey, noting that it marked the transmission of the Executive Bill on state police to the National Assembly and its swift consideration by the Senate.

According to him, previous administrations had attempted to establish state police without success, making the current progress particularly significant.

“I want to thank Arise TV for organising this very important town hall meeting on a matter that has now become a national consensus. One of the few subjects in Nigeria that enjoys such broad national acceptance is the creation of state police,” the governor said.

Abiodun, who chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Committee on State Police Creation, said governors across the federation had played a central role in shaping the bill, reflecting the importance sub-national governments attach to the initiative.

He explained that although governors are constitutionally regarded as the Chief Security Officers of their states, they have historically exercised limited control over policing despite bearing much of the financial responsibility for supporting police operations.

Abiodun disclosed that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum constituted a committee comprising governors and state Attorneys-General to work closely with the executive and legislative arms of government in developing the bill.