…urges state to move beyond legislation and begin designing technology-driven policing architecture
Development advocate and Ondo State stakeholder, Dr. Femi Akinkuebi, has called on Ondo State to move swiftly on the ongoing constitutional amendment for the establishment of State Police, saying the state should position itself among those shaping the future of decentralised policing in Nigeria.
Akinkuebi made the call following the decision of the Osun State House of Assembly to approve the proposed constitutional alteration for the establishment of State Police Services, becoming the first state legislature reported to have done so following the transmission of the bill to the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
According to him, while Osun has set an early pace, Ondo should not limit its response to legislative concurrence. The state should use the opportunity to begin designing a modern security architecture tailored to its geography, communities and evolving security challenges.
«“Osun has taken the lead. Ondo should brace up. We should be among the states leading this historic reform, but our preparation must go beyond passing the bill. We should already be asking what kind of State Police we want to build.”»
Akinkuebi argued that establishing State Police should not simply reproduce the existing policing structure at state level. Rather, he said, the reform provides an opportunity to rethink policing around intelligence, technology, rapid response, community knowledge, professionalism and accountability.
He proposed that Ondo should begin conceptualising an integrated State Security Command-and-Control Centre capable of coordinating intelligence, surveillance, emergency communication and operational response across the state.
Such an architecture, he said, could progressively integrate geospatial crime mapping, lawful AI-assisted video analytics, automatic number-plate recognition, secure emergency communication systems, drone surveillance, early-warning mechanisms and real-time incident management.
Akinkuebi particularly drew attention to Ondo State’s extensive forest corridors and difficult terrain, arguing that conventional patrol methods alone cannot provide the persistent situational awareness required to secure such environments.
«“You cannot police extensive forests only by putting more boots on the ground. Technology must become a force multiplier. We should be able to identify unusual movement, coordinate intelligence and deploy the appropriate security personnel before a threat develops into another kidnapping or violent incident.”»
He noted that such technology is no longer futuristic, pointing to Kogi State’s deployment of unmanned aerial systems for surveillance, intelligence gathering and monitoring of difficult and forested terrain.
Security agencies in Kogi have subsequently deployed drones alongside tactical personnel during forest search operations, demonstrating how technology can complement conventional security operations.
Akinkuebi stressed, however, that technology-driven policing must operate within clearly defined laws, privacy and data-protection safeguards, professional operational standards and strong civilian oversight.
According to him, the larger question before Ondo is not merely whether the state should have its own police service, but what kind of policing institution Ondo wants to build for the next generation.
«“State Police should not mean reproducing yesterday’s policing system at state level. It should give us an opportunity to build tomorrow’s policing architecture today.”»
He called for early engagement among the Ondo State Government, Ondo State House of Assembly, security agencies, traditional institutions, communities, technology professionals, the private sector and other stakeholders.
Such engagement, he said, would allow institutional design, manpower requirements, technology infrastructure, funding mechanisms, recruitment standards, training systems and accountability safeguards to be carefully considered rather than waiting until the constitutional process is completed before planning begins.
Akinkuebi maintained that Ondo possesses the human capital, strategic importance and institutional capacity required to become a reference point for modern subnational policing in the Southwest.
«“Security is ultimately local. The people understand their communities, their forests, their roads and their peculiar threats. What we need is to combine that local intelligence with modern technology, professional policing and strong accountability.”»
He added:
«“Osun has moved. Ondo should brace up and take its place among the leaders. This is not about competition between states; it is about learning from one another and collectively building a safer Southwest and a safer Nigeria.”»
Dr. Femi Akinkuebi
Power for Progress
Itesiwaju Ondo ló jẹ́ wa lógún.