Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has reignited the debate over state policing in Nigeria after delivering a strong message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the Federal Government should stop delaying the creation of state police structures.
Speaking during a public address on security challenges and governance, Makinde described the South-West security outfit, Amotekun, as a “stop-gap” measure created because of the refusal of the Federal Government to fully embrace state policing.
The governor claimed that most South-West states had already demonstrated their readiness to manage local security through Amotekun, but Lagos State reportedly stayed away from the initiative at the time because President Tinubu allegedly did not support it.
According to Makinde, security remains one of the major pillars of his administration, especially during what he described as a difficult period for both himself and Oyo State.
“This security issue has remained one of the major pillars of our administration and it will continue to be,” the governor stated.
Makinde argued that the establishment of Amotekun across the South-West was proof that states could successfully coordinate local security operations if granted constitutional backing and operational authority.
He explained that state Houses of Assembly across the region passed laws to establish the security outfit, stressing that the legal framework for state-controlled policing already exists at the regional level.
“We wanted state police. It was because people were against state police that Amotekun was created as a stop-gap,” he said.
The governor further criticized what he described as unnecessary delays by the Federal Government, saying the Inspector General of Police should not be tasked with creating state police structures.
Instead, he insisted that state governments and their assemblies should be empowered to establish and manage their own policing systems.
“They should stop wasting Nigeria’s time. Don’t ask the Inspector General of Police to create state police for us. Our state assemblies will create it. Give them the authority and support,” Makinde declared.
He expressed confidence that if constitutional powers are granted, state police would become operational within a short period and help restore peace and security across the country.
Makinde’s comments are expected to further fuel national conversations surrounding insecurity, constitutional restructuring, and the long-standing calls for decentralization of Nigeria’s policing system.
The debate over state police has remained one of the most controversial governance issues in Nigeria, with supporters arguing that locally controlled policing would improve intelligence gathering and rapid response, while opponents fear possible abuse by state governments, see more…
