The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission has urged the National Assembly to move swiftly on legislation that will establish state police, describing it as the most urgent reform needed to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

In a statement released in Ibadan, the Commission said the spate of kidnappings, banditry, and terrorist attacks across the country has exposed the limitations of a centralised policing system.

“With every geopolitical zone experiencing attacks by groups of violent criminals, the daily reports of killings, kidnappings, and destruction of livelihoods paint a grim picture of a nation under siege.

“The Nigerian Army, valiant as it has been, is being stretched to its limits, with our brave soldiers fighting on multiple fronts against insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and communal and herdsmen clashes in the Middle Belt.

“It is evident that without urgent legislative action to empower states to develop their own policing and intelligence structures, the country risks sliding into a total breakdown of law and order.

“Nigeria cannot continue to rely solely on federal police structures that are overstretched and under‑resourced. State police are no longer optional — it is a necessity,” the Commission declared.

The Commission which was setup to integrate the political economy of the Southwest geopolitical zone argued that decentralized policing would allow states to respond more effectively to local security challenges.

It noted that governors, who are constitutionally designated as chief security officers of their states, lack the operational control to protect their citizens.

“We cannot continue to watch communities suffer while governors are stripped of the tools to act decisively,” the statement added.

Legislative Urgency

The Commission called on the National Assembly to prioritize constitutional amendments that will empower states to establish their own police forces.

It warned that delay could worsen insecurity and erode public confidence in government.

The push reflects growing frustration among regional leaders, especially as the Jihadist insurgency from the northern region appear to be spreading downwards.

The debate over state police has intensified following recent attacks in Kebbi, Kwara, and Borno. Proponents believe decentralization will improve intelligence gathering and community trust, while critics fear it could be abused by governors for political ends.

Still, the DAWN Commission insists that the risks are outweighed by the urgent need to protect lives. “The time for excuses is over. Nigerians deserve safety, and state police is the path forward,” it said.

The Centre for Democracy and Development has long argued that Nigeria’s security architecture must be restructured to reflect its federal character.

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