State Police Not Enough, Nigeria Needs Highway, Tourist Cops – Ex-Osun Lawmaker

A former member representing Obokun State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called for the establishment of additional specialised policing structures in Nigeria, insisting that state police alone will not adequately address the country’s growing security challenges.

Oyintiloye made the call while reacting to the Senate’s approval of state police, describing the development as a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to build a more effective, responsive and community-based security system.

In a statement issued in Osogbo on Thursday, the All Progressives Congress chieftain congratulated Nigerians on what he described as a historic achievement, noting that security works best when it is locally driven, intelligence-led and supported by communities.

According to him, the decentralisation of policing powers through the establishment of state police is a positive step that has the potential to improve intelligence gathering, response times and community engagement.

“For years, I have remained a vocal advocate of state police because I firmly believed that Nigeria’s evolving security realities require a more localised approach. Today, I am delighted that this long-held dream has become a reality,” he said.

However, Oyintiloye argued that Nigeria should go beyond state police and create other specialised law enforcement units to address specific security concerns.

“The truth is, Nigeria needs more policing structures. It is good that we have state police now. It is the right step. But beyond that, we should have other policing structures. We should have highway police, tourist police, among others,” he stated.

The former lawmaker recalled that he had consistently canvassed the establishment of state police, including in a public intervention published in a national newspaper in February 2018, where he advocated decentralised policing as a practical solution to Nigeria’s security problems.

He said the Senate’s approval validates years of advocacy by security experts, policy stakeholders and concerned citizens who recognised the limitations of a highly centralised policing system.

Oyintiloye further called for the deployment of modern security technologies such as CCTV cameras, drones, digital communication systems and integrated crime databases to enhance the effectiveness of the proposed state police structure.

He also emphasised the importance of community policing and intelligence sharing involving traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders.

While acknowledging concerns about possible abuse of state police by political actors, he urged lawmakers to put in place strong legal safeguards, accountability mechanisms and oversight structures to ensure professionalism and prevent misuse of the new policing system.