Lagos State HOA, SSSG, OUG, NSGF applaud constitutional amendment on State Police
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, in support of the creation of the State Police in Nigeria have urged all 36 states in the house of Assembly to hasten the consideration and approve the bill on the alteration of the Constitution on State policing as national interest.
They expressed support during plenary, on Wednesday, 10 July after Noheem Adams, the Majority leader moved a motion of ” Support for the establishment of State Police in Nigeria”.
Still on the motion, the majority leader stated that the proposed legislation aligns with the Federal government’s efforts to decentralize policing to tackle insecurity more effectively, strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture and improve the protection of lives and property across the country.
The Speaker of the House, Dr Mudashiru Obasa in support of the motion, expressed that establishing the State Police would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s security framework and boost efforts to combat kidnapping, terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.
Subsequent to the approval of the state police bill, the Southwest Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG) and the Oodua Unity Group (OUG) applauded the National Assembly and highlight that the approval would be a significant legislative milestone that could enhance security management cross the federation.
The SSSG, led by Gani Adams is made up of numerous security agencies the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Agbekoya Society, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Professional Hunters Association, Vigilante Jahun, Odua Warriors, Agbekoya Peace Movement, Agbekoya Solidarity Movement, Isokan Ile Odu’a, COMSAIC, Omo Oduduwa United, Egbe Obirin Odua Agbaye among others.
The commendation stemmed from a joint meeting at the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adam’s palace, held on Wednesday, 8th July to address security concerns about the security situation of the SouthWest region. The decision was applauded as a positive step towards empowering states to take more direct control of their security challenges, thereby fostering more localised and effective responses.
It was noted a joint statement signed by Ireti Adewole, the SSSG Publicity Secretary and the OUG Secretary Kola Aare, that while citizens await the police to come into full operation across the country, it remains important for state security apparatus to cooperate with relevant private security groups to totally overcome the security challenges.
Meanwhile, the Northern States Governor’s Forum (NSGF) alongside Northern States Traditional Rules Council commenced a strategic meeting in Kaduna on tackling the region’s challenges, particularly insecurity.
Uba Sani, the Kaduna state governor stated in his welcome address that governors across party lines had for many years advocated for a policing structure more responsive to local realities and better equipped to address contemporary security challenges. He added that the ongoing constitutional amendment process for the establishment of State Police represented a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
