There are Guardrails against Abuse of State Police, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the proposed state police system will include guardrails against possible abuse by governors.

He also stated that the federal government is committed to strengthening the country’s security architecture.

Tinubu spoke on Thursday while receiving traditional rulers under the auspices of the Oyo State Council of Obas, led by Rashidi Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, at the State House in Abuja.

The president said the proposed state police structure would operate with checks and balances, while traditional rulers would 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,” he said.

“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.”

Tinubu also noted that the federal government recently created four additional divisions of the Nigerian Army, bringing the total to 12, to enable the military to respond swiftly to security threats across the country.

He said the expanded army structure would be better motivated to tackle the country’s security challenges.

The president commended members of the armed forces for rescuing abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire LGA of Oyo state, saying the operation succeeded because the government refused to negotiate with the kidnappers.

“Congratulations on the Oriire rescue that succeeded. I think we succeeded with your support, prayers, and I agree with you that we should commend the men and women of the armed forces for their excellent performance. On behalf of them, I accept your message, and I will forward the same message on,” he said.

“We refused to negotiate. These criminals wanted us to review the release from detention, members of their criminal gangs that were already arrested. That was one of their conditions, aside from the money they’re looking for. And I said, ‘no deal,’ we are not going to negotiate with criminals. They committed murder.

“Some of them are non-Nigerians, you know, you see the problem of insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic is adding more fuel to our challenges.”

Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons and activities in their communities, describing intelligence gathering as critical to addressing insecurity.

On the economy, the president said the country’s fiscal position had improved, adding that state governments are receiving higher allocations than before.

He urged governors to prioritise road infrastructure that would improve connectivity and enable security agencies to access remote areas easily instead of constructing flyovers where they were not needed.

Earlier, Ladoja thanked the president for the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers and commended the achievements of the administration.

The traditional ruler also advocated true federalism, saying it would accelerate development across the country’s regions, and called for constitutional roles for traditional rulers.

“We believe in your Renewed Hope Agenda. It is clear you are Renewing our Hope in infrastructure and fixing our abandoned roads,” he said.

“We traditional rulers must ensure this administration completes its tenure. We know it’s a difficult job, and we are ready at any point in time to give you our own opinion, our own advice, and also our own prayers.

“We continue to pray for you, Mr. President, so that by the time you do your bit, and I look at it that you are, now, and that has been shown in the Oriire issue.”

In early July, Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader and vice-chairman of the red chamber’s committee on review of the 1999 Constitution, said one of the safeguards against abuse of state police should be independent funding from the centre.