Nigeria's Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun backs simultaneous passage of state police bill

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun said he expects all 36 state Houses of Assembly to approve a constitutional amendment creating state police, calling June 24 2026 a historic day for Nigeria’s security architecture. He highlighted the bill’s aim to shift policing powers to the concurrent legislative list, improve the police‑to‑citizen ratio and add up to 400,000 security personnel nationwide.

Abiodun urged broader reforms, stressing the need for equitable funding mechanisms, judicial changes such as state courts of appeal, and independent police‑complaints commissions to prevent abuse. He warned that disparities in state revenues could undermine the programme and called for a combined federal‑state financing framework. The governor also linked the initiative to addressing root causes of insecurity, notably farmers‑herders conflicts, and praised President Bola Tinubu’s federalist stance.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has already endorsed the proposal, urging all states to expedite the constitutional alteration. Support from governors, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and civil‑society groups underscores a growing national consensus for decentralised policing.