•By Dave Agboola
The escalating problem of insecurity in Nigeria is undeniably concerning, as criminal acts like kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery continue to increase. Addressing the issue, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, has consistently pushed for the establishment of state police as a solution to the ongoing security challenges in the nation.
Dr Obasa has regularly highlighted the importance of establishing state police to address the increasing rate of criminal activities across different occasions and platforms. Understanding the significant influence of insecurity on the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, especially those living in Lagos State, Obasa advocates for the implementation of state police to better address local security issues.
One notable instance where Dr. Obasa emphasised the importance of state police was during his initial term as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. At various plenary sessions, he emphasised the jurisdictional constraints that hinder the federal police from effectively tackling security challenges at the state and local levels. He stressed that the state police, working closely with the federal police, would fill this gap and guarantee a more thorough security approach.
In addition, he highlighted that by having state police, the enforcement of law and order would be decentralised, enabling each state to customise its security approaches to the specific requirements and characteristics of its communities. Obasa was confident that this decentralisation would result in enhanced intelligence gathering, increased crime prevention effectiveness, and faster response to security threats.
One of the initial tasks Obasa undertook as the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of the State Legislatures of Nigeria when elected in 2018 was to promote the establishment of state police in the country. Following his election, the Conference released a statement urging the National Assembly to quickly move forward with the proposed constitutional amendment to create state police in Nigeria to support the work of the Nigeria police on security.
During a different event in the same year, Obasa raised concerns about the challenges faced by the federal police in addressing security issues at the grassroots level while presenting a paper at a book launch by Japheth Odesanya, the former Ikorodu SLG. He strongly enthused that establishing state police forces would empower states to craft security strategies customised to their unique requirements, fostering community engagement, gathering intelligence, and promptly addressing evolving security challenges.
At another press briefing in 2019, Obasa highlighted the potential benefits of state police, emphasising improved security and the fight against corruption. He underscored the importance of police officers building stronger ties with their communities and being more responsible to the people they serve. Believing that state police would enhance transparency, decrease corruption, and rebuild public trust in the security apparatus through increased local control and oversight.
During a plenary session of the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2021, Dr. Obasa once more highlighted the importance of establishing state police in the country. His proposal, presented on the House floor via a motion, received unanimous support from the lawmakers in attendance.
Obasa found it encouraging that a former president and other former top government officials of the nation had joined in the call for state police. During the plenary session, he mentioned observing a rise in demands for State Police, with reference to former President (Obasanjo) also advocating for the same thing. In his words, “It warms my heart; I couldn’t help but smile when I saw it in the newspapers”.
According to the Speaker, the country should embrace true federalism, including the establishment of state police forces with the authority and resources to combat crime.
During the 2022 National Congress and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Psychological Association at Lagos State University, Dr. Obasa’s speech, delivered by Hon. Victor Akande, emphasised the importance of state police in the country. He expressed disappointment that despite the federal government’s allocation of financial and other resources to address the issue, insecurity persisted. He linked insecurity to various factors such as the country inheriting a flawed security structure and the inability of successive governments to properly reorganise the system.
Obasa, at the event, assessed the Lagos State government’s actions in addressing insecurity, highlighting Lagos as one of the safest states in the country due to the collaborative efforts of all government levels, particularly the Neighbourhood Safety Corps. He urged the federal government to implement a similar approach by establishing state police forces.
Obasa called for the establishment of state police twice in 2023 during the State’s Assembly plenary sessions. At one of the sittings, the House urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to provide necessary equipment for the Neighbourhood Safety Corps to enhance community policing. They also called on the National Assembly to start the process of creating state police nationwide.
As per the House Speaker, these actions are expected to address the increasing security challenges in the nation. He suggested that it was the right moment for the Senate and the House of Representatives to initiate a constitutional amendment process to establish an alternative policing system. He also mentioned that the Lagos Assembly was fully supportive of the idea of state police.
For the umpteenth time in 2024, due to the increasing threats of kidnapping and insecurity in Nigeria, Dr Obasa and his colleagues at the plenary, following their new year break, once more approved a resolution calling on the National Assembly to begin an immediate constitutional amendment to enable the establishment of state police.
In addition to his advocacy within the legislative chamber, Dr. Obasa has consistently engaged with various stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders, security experts, and civil society organizations.. Through garnering support from his colleagues and forming partnerships, he has aimed to create momentum for legislative measures that would allow for the implementation of state police across the country.
The Speaker has been actively working to tackle the problem of insecurity in Nigeria by pushing for the establishment of state police, which has been gaining significant traction. He has highlighted that the state police would not only improve security but also bolster the overall governance system in the nation.
It’s not unexpected that shortly after the recent call by the Lagos State House of Assembly for state police, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR convened a meeting with the state governors. They collectively endorsed the idea of state police and are now concentrating on expediting its implementation.
It is also intriguing to observe that soon after, the National Assembly approved this proposal for state police. A few days ago, the House of Representatives approved a bill for the establishment of state police in the country for the second reading. Proposed by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon Benjamin Kalu and 14 others, the bill aims to amend the pertinent Sections of the 1999 Constitution to allow states to create their own policing units.
Dr Obasa’s strong advocacy for the establishment of state police as a solution to the current insecurity in Nigeria is clearly producing positive outcomes. With his unwavering support on numerous occasions and platforms, he has spoken out about the critical importance of state police and collaborated with others to push this discussion ahead. Amid ongoing security challenges in the country, the actions of leaders such as Obasa offer optimism that sustainable solutions can be developed to safeguard the welfare of all Nigerians.
Following the recent decision by the National Assembly, Nigeria is set to align with regions like North America, South Asia, and Oceania, particularly Australia, the United States, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom, where state police forces are established. It is anticipated that the level of insecurity in the country will be significantly decreased.
Rt Hon Obasa’s advocacy for the establishment of state police as a solution to Nigeria’s security challenges is truly praiseworthy. Through his stanch support, both locally and nationally, he has elevated the topic to a prominent position in public conversations. Being a diligent and forward-thinking leader, he has implemented concrete measures to interact with stakeholders, foster agreement, and advocate for legislative action, resulting in tangible outcomes. He has significantly influenced the conversation around state police by highlighting its advantages and rallying support for this innovative solution, thereby aligning with the administration’s agenda of renewed hope.
Dave Agboola is Special Adviser (Research) to Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly.
