President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the proposed creation of state police will include safeguards to prevent abuse by state governors.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the proposed state police system will include measures to prevent abuse of power.
The President made the statement on Thursday while receiving members of the Oyo State Council of Obas, led by the Rashidi Ladoja, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Tinubu said the planned state police structure would operate with proper checks and balances. He also said traditional rulers would help ensure the system is used responsibly and remains accountable.
The President added that the Federal Government is strengthening security by improving the training and capacity of forest guards. According to him, the guards will help security agencies track down criminals hiding in forests across the country.
Tinubu also revealed that the government has increased the number of Nigerian Army divisions from eight to twelve to improve the military’s ability to respond quickly to security threats.
He praised members of the armed forces for rescuing pupils and teachers who were kidnapped in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. He said the operation was successful because the government refused to negotiate with the kidnappers.
According to the President, the kidnappers demanded money and the release of some of their arrested gang members, but the government rejected those demands.
Tinubu also noted that insecurity in neighbouring countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic has contributed to Nigeria’s security challenges.
He urged Nigerians to remain alert and report suspicious people or activities to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation is important in the fight against crime.
Speaking on the economy, Tinubu said Nigeria’s financial situation has improved and that state governments are now receiving higher allocations from the Federal Government.
He advised governors to focus on building and repairing roads that improve access to rural communities and make it easier for security agencies to respond to emergencies, instead of spending money on unnecessary flyovers.
Earlier, the Olubadan of Ibadanland thanked the President for the rescue of the kidnapped pupils and teachers and praised his administration’s efforts in improving infrastructure.
The traditional ruler also called for true federalism and urged the government to give traditional rulers constitutional roles in governance.
Earlier this month, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said one of the proposed safeguards for state police would be an independent funding system supported by the Federal Government.
