State Police Approval Marks Major Step Toward Improved Security — Oyintiloye

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, praised the National Assembly’s approval of state police as a significant advance for Nigeria’s security framework.

Speaking to reporters in Osogbo on Thursday, Oyintiloye said the decision represented a historic milestone in the country’s effort to establish a policing system that is more effective, responsive and community‑based.

The former lawmaker, who has long championed the proposal, expressed satisfaction that the initiative received legislative support under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“Nigeria’s growing security challenges have long demonstrated the need for a decentralised policing structure capable of addressing local security concerns more effectively,” he said.

Oyintiloye recalled that he had consistently advocated for state police as a practical solution to insecurity, noting that one of his public interventions on the issue was published in a national newspaper.

“The Senate’s decision vindicated years of advocacy by security experts, policy stakeholders and concerned Nigerians who had highlighted the limitations of a highly centralised policing system,” he added.

He said that the introduction of state police would strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rapid response to security threats and deepen community policing across the country.

The APC chieftain also noted that the initiative would create employment opportunities and enable law‑enforcement agencies to better understand and respond to local security challenges.

“For years, I have remained a vocal advocate of state police because I firmly believed that Nigeria’s evolving security realities require a more localised approach,” Oyintiloye said. “Today, I am delighted that this long‑held dream for our dear nation has become a reality under the courageous and visionary leadership of the President.”

He stressed that for state police to succeed, it must be technology‑driven and community‑oriented, calling for the deployment of tools such as CCTV cameras, drones, digital communication systems and crime databases to support operations.

Oyintiloye urged stakeholders to ensure that the implementation framework is guided by professionalism, accountability, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

He commended President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, members of the National Assembly, governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders for their roles in advancing the reform, expressing optimism that it would strengthen national security, promote peace and support economic development.