Follow Us on Google
By Lukman Olabiyi
A pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Yoruba One Voice (YOV), has renewed its call for sweeping reforms of Nigeria’s security architecture, insisting that decentralised policing and true federalism are critical to addressing the nation’s worsening insecurity.
In a statement issued by its General Secretary, Prince Adedokun Ademiluyi, the group said the current centralised security framework has failed to effectively respond to the diverse and localised security challenges confronting the country. YOV argued that establishing state and community-based policing structures would significantly enhance operational efficiency, improve intelligence gathering, and foster trust between security agencies and local populations.
“The decentralisation of the policing system will empower states and local governments to establish and manage their own police forces tailored to the needs of their communities,” the statement said.
The group maintained that closer collaboration between local authorities and residents would strengthen early threat detection and response, thereby improving overall public safety.
Other News
Beyond security reforms, YOV also advocated the urgent implementation of true federalism, describing it as a necessary pathway to Nigeria’s unity, stability, and development.
According to the group, key elements of true federalism include devolution of powers, equitable distribution of resources, constitutional restructuring, and the protection of human rights.
It noted that granting greater autonomy to states would enable them to manage critical sectors such as security, education, and healthcare more effectively, while also promoting balanced regional development.
“True federalism remains the most viable system to address Nigeria’s structural challenges and ensure that governance reflects the aspirations of its diverse ethnic groups,” YOV stated.
The organisation further called for a comprehensive constitutional review to strengthen federal institutions and guarantee citizens’ rights, including accessible mechanisms for redress in cases of violations.
