Oyo Speaker Ogundoyin backs creation of state police
By Adejayan Gbenga –
Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has renewed calls for the creation of state police as a strategic response to Nigeria’s worsening security situation. Describing the security crisis as deeply troubling, he noted that it has endangered lives and stalled economic growth.
Ogundoyin, who also chairs the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, said this while addressing journalists on Tuesday in Ibadan. He cited statistics suggesting that over 700,000 Nigerians have died in violent conflicts such as insurgency and farmer-herder clashes.
“Losing 700,000 people is not only alarming but also a tragedy,” the Speaker said. “The primary responsibility of any government is to protect lives and property. When it fails in that duty, it has failed completely.”
He stressed that allowing states to manage their own police formations would reduce the pressure on the overstretched Nigeria Police Force and create more responsive, community-focused security systems.
Ogundoyin stated that the Conference of Speakers had reached a consensus on the need for state policing, describing it as a necessary complement to the federal structure. He said this reflects growing recognition of the shortcomings of a centralised policing system.
He also noted increased support for state police from the federal government and the National Assembly, indicating a national shift toward decentralising security operations.
Responding to concerns about possible political misuse of state police by governors, Ogundoyin proposed strong legal safeguards and institutional checks to ensure transparency and accountability.
On local government autonomy, the Speaker said the Oyo Assembly supports granting financial independence to councils but stressed that issues like the joint state-local government accounts must be addressed first. He urged reforms to empower local governments to drive grassroots development without overreliance on federal allocations.
