ABUJA — In a move that signals a sweeping paradigm shift in Nigeria’s internal security framework, the former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has highly commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the landmark passage of the Executive State Police Bill.
Metuh, who currently serves as the Director of Mobilisation and Enlightenment for the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, described the legislative breakthrough as a “historic milestone” and arguably one of the most defining achievements of the current administration.
For decades, the decentralization of the Nigerian Police Force has been a subject of intense national debate. Successive administrations have grappled with the constitutional hurdles and political anxieties surrounding the policy, leaving local communities vulnerable to escalating security crises. According to Metuh, President Tinubu has shattered this long-standing policy deadlock.
“President Tinubu has demonstrated exceptional courage, foresight, and statesmanship by championing a reform that successive administrations were unable to accomplish despite widespread public support,” Metuh stated on Thursday. “This achievement will undoubtedly occupy a prominent place in the annals of Nigeria’s democratic and security history.”
The Multi-Dimensional Benefits of Local Policing
Metuh, a veteran political figure, emphasized that the establishment of state-managed police forces offers immediate, practical solutions to the systemic vulnerabilities plaguing the country. By restructuring the law enforcement architecture, the federal government is effectively empowering states to directly confront localized criminal elements.
According to Metuh, the operational advantages of the new policing structure include:
- Enhanced Grassroots Intelligence: Personnel drawn from local communities possess invaluable knowledge of local languages, cultural nuances, and difficult terrains, maximizing intelligence gathering.
- Rapid Response Times: Eliminating bureaucratic federal command structures allows for immediate tactical deployment during security emergencies.
- Targeted Counter-Terrorism: State police will provide a more lethal, localized front against kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, terrorism, and cultism.
- Economic Vitality & Job Creation: The massive recruitment and training drives required to populate state forces will generate thousands of jobs, while safer environments will aggressively drive domestic and foreign direct investment.
A Call to Action and Warning Against Political Abuse
While celebrating the legislative triumph, Metuh was quick to remind stakeholders that the passage of the bill is only the first step in a complex implementation process. He issued an urgent appeal to the 36 state governors to cast aside partisan divides and collaborate seamlessly with the Federal Government to realize the vision of the bill.
Crucially, Metuh addressed the lingering public anxiety regarding how state governors might wield their newfound security apparatuses. He challenged the National Assembly, civil society organizations, and traditional institutions to build impenetrable constitutional safeguards around the new system.
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”State police must never become instruments of political intimidation or oppression,” Metuh warned. “Instead, they must operate professionally, independently, and in strict accordance with the Constitution and the rule of law.”
Concluding his statement, the former PDP spokesman reiterated that if implemented with national interest at the forefront, the decentralization of policing will permanently redefine Nigeria’s internal security architecture, protecting rural populations and guaranteeing long-term national prosperity.
