Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has said Nigeria needs an additional 554,353 police personnel to adequately staff the proposed state police system, calling for a dedicated funding mechanism to ensure its success.
Abiodun, who chairs the Southern Governors’ Forum, disclosed this on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at a colloquium marking the posthumous 70th birthday of former Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Citing data from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, he said the figure was based on a benchmark of one police officer to 414 citizens, translating to about 184,784 recruits annually over three years. .
Abiodun warned that differences in states’ revenue-generating capacity could undermine the proposed reform, noting that many states lacked the financial resources to independently maintain effective police forces.
He proposed a constitutional State Police Take-Off Fund, with grants distributed according to need and compliance with established standards, to ensure poorer states were not disadvantaged.
He also stressed the need for transparent recruitment, proper training, adequate welfare and strong accountability mechanisms to prevent political interference and human rights abuses.
The governor argued that decentralised policing would improve local responses to security challenges and support economic growth by creating a safer environment for farmers, businesses and investors.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said Akeredolu’s advocacy for state policing had helped move the issue from regional debate to the centre of national policy discussions.
Akeredolu was a leading advocate of decentralised security and played a key role in establishing the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, in January 2020.
Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission Director-General Seye Oyeleye also called for an effective state police system with sustainable funding and safeguards against political abuse.
