The call for a decentralized policing system in Nigeria has gained fresh urgency as Gani Adams, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, re‑affirmed his support for the establishment of state police. In a recent interview on the television programme “Sunrise Daily,” Adams argued that only a policing structure rooted at the state level can effectively respond to the widespread insecurity plaguing the country. (punchng.com)
Adams said he “totally agrees” with the position taken by the Southern Governors’ Forum, which has in recent times renewed demands for state police as part of a broader restructuring of Nigeria’s security architecture. He commended South‑West governors for leading the push, underscoring the need for community‑based security rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all national police. (punchng.com)
Addressing critics who fear that state governors might misuse state police for political ends, Adams urged that such concerns should not overshadow the urgent need to safeguard lives and property. According to him, ensuring security must remain the primary responsibility of government — partisan politics should come second. (punchng.com)
One of the main weaknesses of the current security system, as pointed out by Adams, is the deployment of officers who lack familiarity with the communities they are meant to protect. He argued that effective policing requires individuals drawn from local environments — people who understand the terrain, the local history, and the social dynamics of their communities. (punchng.com)
Using his hometown of Arigidi‑Akoko in Ondo State as an example, Adams said local knowledge matters. Residents know forest paths, customary routes, and families that have lived there for generations — useful intelligence that outsiders may not possess. Such familiarity, he said, could help spot intruders and trace crimes promptly in areas vulnerable to criminal infiltration. (punchng.com)
Adams argued that Nigeria’s federal structure — with its three levels of government (federal, state, local) — demands a corresponding policing structure. It, he said, is untenable for a country with multiple tiers of governance to rely on a single, central policing outfit to secure all communities. For him, state and local policing are indispensable to achieving security. (punchng.com)
Calls for state policing have grown louder in recent months, driven by an escalation of insecurity across the nation. Beyond Adams and the Southern Governors’ Forum, other stakeholders — including civil society groups and traditional rulers — have also advocated for a decentralized security architecture. (punchng.com)
Supporters argue that state police would lead to improved intelligence gathering, faster response times, and stronger involvement of communities in their own security — a model believed to be more adaptive and locally responsive than the current centralized system. (businessday.ng)
Still, the debate remains polarised. Some commentators and organisations warn that giving states their own police could be abused for political purposes or exacerbate inter‑communal tensions. (thenationonlineng.net)
But for Adams and many proponents, the risks pale in comparison to the perceived gains: a policing system that reflects the realities of Nigeria’s diverse states and communities, one that can pre‑empt threats with local knowledge and act swiftly to protect citizens. Thus, he urged the National Assembly to begin reviewing the laws to enable states that desire to establish state police to do so. (punchng.com)
As Nigeria navigates an intensifying security crisis, Gani Adams’ voice adds weight to the call for structural reform. The push for state and local policing — once considered fringe — now features prominently in national discourse. Whether the demand will translate into constitutional change remains uncertain, but the conversation is undeniably no longer avoidable.
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