The Southwest Security Stakeholders Group, SSSG, a coalition of security groups in the South-West, has urged President Bola Tinubu to expedite the passage of the state police bill. The group made this call on Tuesday after an extraordinary meeting at Oodua House, Ikeja, Lagos. Led by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, the SSSG comprises several security groups in the region, including the Oodua People's Congress, OPC; the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN; the Professional Hunters Association; Odua Warriors; Vigilante Jahun; Agbekoya Peace Movement; Agbekoya Solidarity Movement; COMSAIC; Isokan Ile Oodua; Egbe Obinrin Oodua Agbaye; Omo Oduduwa United; Yoruba People's Congress and Yoruba Self-Defence Group. The group acknowledged that incidents of insecurity have not been alarming in the South-West in recent months, but emphasized the need for the region to remain prepared by establishing state police structures. It stated that residents in several states in the North and Middle Belt are still facing insecurity, stressing the need for proactive measures to prevent the spread of criminal activities.

Iba Gani Adams, the leader of the SSSG, is a well-known figure in Yorubaland. Born on April 30, 1970, Adams is a former chairman of the Oodua People's Congress, OPC, and has been involved in several high-profile security initiatives in the South-West.

The SSSG also called on the Federal Government, state governments and state lawmakers to provide clarity on the status of the reform and the steps being taken to actualise it. The group urged all stakeholders involved in the implementation of the proposed state police framework to expedite action, arguing that delays could undermine efforts to address insecurity at the community level.

According to the SSSG, the proposed state police system is a potentially significant reform of Nigeria's security architecture, as decentralization could enable states to respond more effectively to local security challenges. The group also called for greater collaboration among governments, security agencies, traditional institutions and community organizations in developing technology-driven and community-based approaches to tackling insecurity.

In its statement, the SSSG said: 'The time for rhetoric has passed. The people of the Southwest demand and deserve peace, security and development... The SSSG stands ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to achieve these goals.'

The proposed state police bill is expected to be presented to the President on September 3, 2026, while the constitutional amendment would still require approval by at least 24 of Nigeria's 36 State Houses of Assembly.

The SSSG's call for expedited passage of the state police bill has sent a loud message to the Federal Government and state lawmakers in the South-West. The group's push for greater collaboration among stakeholders in tackling insecurity is also seen as a welcome development by many in the region.