Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has declared his administration’s readiness to establish a state police force, describing it as a critical step towards strengthening security, protecting investments and sustaining the state’s growing economic activities.

Abiodun also announced the immediate commencement of a social investment cash transfer programme for vulnerable residents to cushion the effects of rising food and transportation costs.

He made the announcements yesterday at a town hall meeting on the 2027 budget and the 2027–2029 Medium Term Expenditure Framework for Remo Division, held at the Akarigbo Palace, Sagamu.

Speaking on the proposed establishment of state police, the governor, who chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Committee on State Police, said Ogun was prepared to embrace the initiative, noting that the state’s expanding industrial and commercial activities required a more robust security framework.

He declared: “I am the chairman of the Governors’ Forum on State Police creation. Ogun State is ready for state police.”

Abiodun said his administration had consistently strengthened the state’s security architecture through the provision of operational vehicles, allowances and equipment, as well as increased recruitment into the Ogun State Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun.

He disclosed that Amotekun and the So-Safe Corps currently had a combined strength of about 6,000 personnel.

“To protect the gains we have made, we have continued to strengthen our security architecture by providing them with vehicles, allowances and equipment. We have empowered our Amotekun and increased their recruitment,” he said.

On the cash transfer initiative, the governor said the programme was designed to provide direct financial support to vulnerable households grappling with the rising cost of living, particularly food and transportation.

He linked the prevailing economic pressures partly to disruptions in the global oil and gas supply chain arising from the ongoing Israel-American-Iran conflict, which he said had contributed to rising oil prices and transportation costs.

“We are going to start the implementation of our social investment cash initiative. We are going to transfer cash to our people to cushion the effects of this America-Israel-Iran war,” he stated.

The governor disclosed that the programme would commence immediately in Sagamu, with beneficiaries already identified and captured in the state’s database expected to receive payment alerts.

He added that the initiative would subsequently be extended to other communities across Remoland and the entire state.

“I am starting that today in Sagamu. I’m going into Ogijo from here. All those who have been generated to benefit will get their alerts today while I’m there. I’m going to do the same across Remoland and, of course, the whole state,” he said.