President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the proposed state police system will include safeguards to prevent abuse by state governors, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening the country’s security architecture.
The President gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving members of the Oyo State Council of Obas, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at the State House in Abuja.
According to Tinubu, the proposed state police structure will operate with checks and balances, while traditional rulers will also play a role in ensuring accountability.
“There will be state police. That state police will have guardrails from abuses. We’ll protect it from abuses, and you traditional rulers too will have roles to play,” Tinubu said.
The President also disclosed that the Federal Government is strengthening the country’s security system by expanding the role of forest guards and increasing the capacity of the Nigerian Army.
“We are equally enhancing the capacity and capability of the forest guards. They are not just to chase antelopes and animals. We are going to have them chase the criminals and deal with them in various forests,” he added.
Tinubu revealed that the government recently created four additional divisions of the Nigerian Army, increasing the total number to 12, to improve the military’s ability to respond swiftly to security threats across the country.
He also praised members of the armed forces for successfully rescuing abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, explaining that the operation succeeded because the government refused to negotiate with the kidnappers.
“We refused to negotiate. I said, ‘No deal.’ We are not going to negotiate with criminals,” the President stated.
Tinubu added that some of the criminal elements responsible for insecurity are non-Nigerians, noting that instability in Mali, Burkina Faso and the Niger Republic has worsened Nigeria’s security challenges.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by reporting suspicious activities in their communities, describing intelligence gathering as vital to tackling insecurity.
On the economy, the President said Nigeria’s fiscal position has improved, adding that state governments now receive higher allocations than in the past.
He also advised governors to prioritise road projects that improve connectivity and security operations instead of constructing flyovers where they are not urgently needed.
Earlier, Oba Rashidi Ladoja commended Tinubu for the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire and expressed support for the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He also called for true federalism and constitutional roles for traditional rulers.
