A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide, representing Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency, has praised the passage of the constitutional amendment bill aimed at establishing state police, calling it a major milestone in Nigeria's efforts to tackle growing security challenges through a more responsive and decentralized policing system.
Olajide's Reaction to the Bill's Passage
Olajide, who is the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, made the remarks on Thursday while reacting to the consideration and passage of the proposal by the House of Representatives under the ongoing constitution review exercise chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu. The proposed amendment seeks to create a constitutional framework for the establishment of state police across the federation as part of efforts to strengthen internal security and improve law enforcement at the sub-national level.
According to the lawmaker, the development represents a significant step towards modernizing Nigeria’s security architecture and deepening the federal system of government. He noted that the country’s centralized policing structure has become increasingly overstretched in the face of rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, armed robbery, and other violent crimes across different parts of the country.
“The security challenges confronting our nation require innovative, practical, and locally responsive solutions. The passage of the state police bill by the House of Representatives represents a necessary step towards reinforcing internal security and ensuring that communities are better protected,” Olajide said.
Benefits of Decentralized Policing
He argued that the proposed state police framework would improve intelligence gathering, enhance response times to security threats, and enable state governments to play a more active role in safeguarding lives and property within their jurisdictions. Drawing comparisons with other federal democracies, Olajide said countries such as the United States operate decentralized policing systems where federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies work collaboratively to address security concerns based on local realities.
The federal lawmaker stressed that the Nigerian model under consideration contains adequate safeguards to prevent abuse while promoting accountability, professionalism, and operational efficiency. According to him, the framework includes oversight mechanisms, state police service commissions, and provisions that allow federal intervention in situations involving abuse of power or threats to national security.
Call for Senate Concurrence
Olajide therefore called on the Senate to accord the constitutional amendment expedited consideration, citing the urgency of the nation’s security challenges. “I urge our distinguished senators to give this constitutional amendment the attention and urgency it deserves. Nigerians have waited for this reform for many years, and the time has come to take decisive action in the interest of national security,” he said.
Speaking on the preparedness of states to implement the reform, Olajide expressed confidence that Oyo State would be among the leading beneficiaries of the proposed legislation when eventually enacted. He maintained that the state already possesses many of the institutional and administrative structures necessary to support an effective state police system, adding that the Oyo State House of Assembly has demonstrated sufficient legislative capacity to act promptly when the amendment is transmitted to state legislatures for ratification.
“As a state, we have shown commitment to innovative governance, security collaboration, and institutional development. I have no doubt that Oyo State will be among the leading states in implementing this reform when it becomes law,” he added.
Ibadan State Creation
On the ongoing constitutional debate surrounding state creation, Olajide expressed optimism that the agitation for the creation of Ibadan State would receive favorable consideration. He said the demand for Ibadan State has evolved beyond political aspiration into a legitimate constitutional issue rooted in equity, administrative convenience, economic viability, and the need to bring governance closer to the people. The lawmaker urged stakeholders across the proposed state to sustain support for the initiative as the constitutional amendment process progresses.
