Ogun Ready for State Police, Abiodun Declares, Begins Cash Transfer Scheme in Sagamu
Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has declared his administration’s readiness to establish a state police force, describing the initiative as essential to strengthening security, protecting investments, and sustaining the state’s growing economic activities.
The governor 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.
Abiodun made the announcements during a town hall meeting on the 2027 budget and the 2027–2029 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for Remo Division, held at the Akarigbo Palace, Sagamu.
Speaking on the proposed establishment of state police, the governor, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Committee on State Police, declared that Ogun State was prepared to embrace the initiative.
“I am the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum on State Police creation. Ogun State is ready for state police,” he said.
He explained that the state’s expanding industrial and commercial activities required a stronger security framework to protect residents, businesses and investments.
The governor noted that his administration had continued to strengthen 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.
On the cash transfer programme, Abiodun said the initiative was designed to provide direct financial assistance to vulnerable households facing the rising cost of living.
He attributed some of the prevailing economic pressures to disruptions in the global oil and gas supply chain arising from the ongoing Israel-America-Iran conflict, which he said had contributed to increased 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,” the governor stated.
Abiodun disclosed that the programme would commence immediately in Sagamu, adding that beneficiaries already identified and captured in the state’s database would receive payment alerts.
He said the initiative would subsequently be extended across Remoland and other parts of Ogun State.
The governor also announced plans to sink boreholes in all 236 wards across the state and provide transformers and solar-powered streetlights to improve access to basic amenities and strengthen community security.
He assured residents that Remoland remained central to his administration’s development agenda, describing the division as an active participant and beneficiary of Ogun State’s economic transformation.
Earlier, the Economic Adviser to the Governor and Commissioner for Finance, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, emphasised the importance of citizen participation, transparency and mutual accountability in the governance process.
He said the performance of any administration should be measured by the tangible improvements its policies and programmes brought to the lives of citizens, particularly in infrastructure development and social interventions.
Providing an overview of the state’s fiscal performance, Okubadejo disclosed that Ogun recorded an expenditure of N490 billion out of its N703 billion budget estimate in 2024, representing approximately 70 per cent performance.
He added that the 2025 budget of N1.05 trillion recorded expenditure of about N700 billion, representing 65 per cent performance.
According to him, the 2026 budget, valued at N1.67 trillion, had continued to support government interventions in infrastructure, education, youth empowerment, agriculture and other critical sectors.
He explained that the town hall meeting was part of the consultation process for preparing the 2027 budget within the 2027–2029 Medium Term Expenditure Framework.
Speaking on behalf of the chairmen of Sagamu, Remo North and Ikenne Local Government Areas, the Chairman of Sagamu Local Government, Afolabi Odulate, appealed to the state government to address alleged encroachment by Lagos State into Ogun through border communities.
He also called for the rehabilitation of deteriorating roads across the three local government areas to improve transportation, stimulate commercial activities and enhance residents’ living conditions.
The Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, commended the state government for its development projects across the division but called for the establishment of a monitoring team to ensure the proper utilisation and maintenance of public facilities.
The monarch also appealed for the establishment of federal tertiary institutions in Remoland and urged the state government to ensure adequate inclusion of the division’s indigenes in its economic development initiatives.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Remo Division of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chief Adewale Kalejaye, advocated stronger collaboration between the professional body and the state government to expand the tax base and improve revenue generation.
He also called for increased funding for Sustainable Development Goals initiatives, particularly programmes aimed at reducing poverty and hunger and improving children’s access to education.
