Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party and Director of Mobilisation and Enlightenment of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Olisa Metuh, has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on the passage of the State Police Bill, describing it as “a historic milestone in Nigeria’s security reform.”
In a statement issued on Thursday, Metuh said the passage of the bill “stands out as one of the most significant achievements of the present administration.”
He described the successful passage of the Executive bill, initiated and introduced by President Tinubu, as “a turning point in Nigeria’s quest to address the growing security challenges confronting our nation.”
“For many years, Nigerians from diverse political, ethnic, and religious backgrounds have advocated for the decentralization of policing to enable a more effective and responsive security framework. Today, that vision is becoming a reality,” he said.
Metuh commended the President for championing a reform that previous administrations failed to implement despite widespread public support.
“President Tinubu has demonstrated courage, foresight, and statesmanship by championing a reform that successive administrations were unable to accomplish despite widespread public support. This achievement will undoubtedly occupy a prominent place in the annals of Nigeria’s democratic and security history,” he stated.
According to him, the establishment of state police offers “a practical solution to many of the security concerns facing our country.”
He said the new policing structure would lead to improved community policing through better knowledge of local languages, culture and terrain, enhanced intelligence gathering and information sharing, and faster responses to security threats and emergencies.
Metuh added that state police would enable “more effective combat against kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, terrorism, cultism, and other violent crimes,” while also ensuring “greater protection for rural communities and vulnerable populations.”
He further noted that the initiative would create jobs through the recruitment and training of qualified personnel, strengthen Nigeria’s federal structure by giving states a greater role in securing lives and property, and reduce the operational burden on federal security agencies.
The former PDP spokesman also said the reform would increase the accountability and accessibility of law enforcement institutions and create “a more secure environment that will encourage investment and economic growth.”
While celebrating the passage of the bill, Metuh called on governors across the country to collaborate with the President and the Federal Government in implementing the reform.
“The primary objective must be the protection of citizens and the preservation of law and order,” he said.
He also urged the National Assembly, state governments, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and security stakeholders to establish safeguards against possible misuse of the new policing system.
“State police must never become instruments of political intimidation or oppression. Instead, they must operate professionally, independently, and in accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law,” he stated.
He further urged stakeholders to place national interest above partisan considerations, expressing confidence that “if properly implemented, state police will significantly enhance internal security, strengthen grassroots policing, and contribute to a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.”
Metuh again congratulated President Tinubu for what he described as “this bold and transformative achievement, which many Nigerians believe will redefine the nation’s security architecture for generations to come.”