Pass state police bill, Ondo APC urges NASS

The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has thrown its weight behind the creation of state police as a means of addressing the spate of insecurity in the country.

The ruling party urged members of the National Assembly to set aside political and ethnic affiliations and pass the bill in the interest of national peace and tranquillity.

This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the state Director of Media and Publicity of the Ondo APC, Mr Steve Otaloro. The statement is titled, ‘APC Ondo to NASS: Rise above politics and pass the state police bill’.

In the statement, the party expressed deep concern over the escalating security challenges confronting Nigeria and called for urgent legislative action to address them.

The statement read, “From persistent rural banditry, violent herdsmen attacks, kidnapping, and urban criminal activities, to the growing infiltration of extremist groups across national borders, the country is experiencing a new and dangerous phase of insecurity that demands urgent and innovative solutions.

“We commend the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for its intensified efforts in combating these threats. The enhanced deployment of security personnel, acquisition of modern hardware, improved intelligence operations, and stronger cooperation with state governments reflect a renewed commitment to national safety. These efforts have yielded notable progress in stabilising several flashpoints and restoring hope to affected communities.

“However, it is increasingly clear that the Nigeria Police Force, despite its dedication and sacrifices, cannot fully secure every community across the federation without structured support from state-level policing systems. The ongoing debates across the federation and in the National Assembly on the creation of state police show that the nation has reached a consensus point: Nigeria needs a multi-layered policing framework to respond to today’s realities.”

The APC recalled the efforts of the former governor of the state, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, whose advocacy for the decentralisation of policing “laid the groundwork for a new security paradigm” through the creation of the Amotekun Corps

Akeredolu foresaw the dangers of unchecked banditry, cross-border terrorism, and widespread attacks on farmlands at a time many underestimated the severity of these threats. His response led to the establishment of the Amotekun Corps, a regional security network designed to complement federal security agencies.

“Despite stiff resistance from the Federal Government at the time, including legal obstacles from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, he stood firmly on constitutional principles. His determination ensured that Amotekun did not die at inception but became a model for effective community policing across the Southwest.”

The APC also commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his involvement in the strategy sessions, legal consultations, and operational planning that birthed Amotekun while he was deputy governor.

“His first-hand knowledge of the security architecture has enabled him, upon assuming office, to strengthen and modernise the corps through enhanced training and retraining programmes, improved operational equipment and logistics, expanded intelligence-gathering capacity, better welfare packages for operatives, and closer collaboration with federal security agencies.

“In view of the present security realities and the ongoing debate across the country on the creation of state police, the APC Ondo State calls on National Assembly lawmakers to speed up deliberations and pass a comprehensive bill allowing states to create and manage their own police structures.

“We therefore urge the National Assembly to rise above political differences, partisan calculations, and ethnic jingoism, and unite behind this patriotic legislation. This is a moment for national leadership, not division,” the APC stated.

The call comes as the National Assembly continues deliberations on the constitution amendment bill seeking to allow states to establish and manage their own police structures.

The proposed legislation, which has passed key stages of debate, aims to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, enabling decentralised security operations across the country.