Southern Governors Renew Call for State Police to Strengthen Grassroots Security in Nigeria

Southern governors across Nigeria have renewed their strong call for the establishment of state police, stressing that it remains the most effective strategy for tackling the persistent security challenges affecting communities in the region and the entire country. They believe that empowering states with full policing authority will improve safety operations at the grassroots level and help respond to rising threats more efficiently.

The position was reaffirmed during the latest gathering of the Southern Governors Forum, where leaders from the region came together to deliberate on security, development, and regional cooperation. The meeting, which took place in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, served as a strategic platform for discussing actionable solutions to the worrying insecurity across several states.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who also serves as the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, emphasized that the creation of state-controlled policing units is essential for community protection. He highlighted that local governments and state authorities understand the security dynamics of their territories better than federal agencies, making state police an effective and necessary step toward safeguarding citizens.

Abiodun also noted that the rising rate of organized crime, violent attacks, and other security threats requires a restructuring of Nigeria’s current policing framework. According to him, a decentralized security architecture would not only strengthen rapid response systems but also create a better synergy between local communities and security operatives.

The southern governors further echoed that without state police, efforts to fully secure rural communities, border towns, major cities, and economic corridors would continue to face major roadblocks. They insisted that the Nigerian government must treat the issue as urgent, considering the need for tailored security strategies that reflect the unique realities of different states.

Their collective stance has once again drawn national attention to the long-standing debate surrounding police decentralization, especially at a time when insecurity has become a major concern for citizens, businesses, and investors across Nigeria.