Lawmaker lauds Confab on state police

A member of the House of Representatives, Prince Yomi Ogunnusi, representing Ijaye/Ojokoro Constituency in Lagos State, on Friday hailed the decision of the National Conference to back the creation of state police.

Ogunnusi, who is the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, told the National Assembly to ensure quick passage of the bill on state police.

NAN reports that the National Conference on June 26, voted for the creation of state police in the country.

A bill on the creation of state police has passed its first reading at the House of Representatives.

Ogunnusi said in a statement in Lagos, that Nigeria was ripe to have community and state police, to check insecurity across the nation.

“I think I am surprised with the decision of the National Conference to back the setting up of state police and I must commend them for this move.

“I initiated the bill and I believe it should be passed so that the insecurity pervading the country can be checked.

“I also want to urge my colleagues to allow the bill to pass the second reading so that communities can secure themselves, rather than depending on outsiders.”

According to him, it is obvious that the intent of the bill is for effective security at the state and Local Government levels.

“The security situation in the country is at an all time low. There are escalating incidents of robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, militancy and many other vices that a centralised police system has not been able to stem.

“The way forward is the establishment of state and community policing,” he stated.

The State Policing Bill is seeking to alter the necessary sections of the Constitution to allow for the establishment of state and community police in Nigeria to ensure effective community policing as a modern security strategy.