46th Ondo CP, Lawal Visits Assembly, Assures of Peaceful State
By Elizabeth Oyeniwa
The Ondo State House of Assembly on Thursday received the new Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, who paid a courtesy visit to the legislative chamber alongside his management team.
Lawal, who assumed office as the 46th Commissioner of Police in Ondo State Command on July 2, 2025, was warmly welcomed by the Speaker of the House,Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji, principal officers, and other lawmakers.
In his address, Speaker Oladiji commended the police boss for his swift efforts in stabilizing security in the state within a short period of assumption. He noted that complaints from residents had reduced significantly since Lawal took over the leadership of the command.
“On behalf of the State House of Assembly, I wish to appreciate you. When you came on board, we had pockets of security crises that sometimes required external support. However, you have been able to contain these challenges, and I commend you for that,” the Speaker said.
Oladiji stressed the importance of synergy between the police and other security outfits, particularly the Amotekun Corps, which was created by law through the Assembly to complement policing efforts. He urged the CP to notify the House whenever there are lapses in cooperation so that lawmakers can intervene.
The Speaker also raised concerns about land grabbing cases previously mishandled by the command, urging the new CP to carefully review inherited cases before taking decisions. He further appealed to him to sustain the fight against corruption and extortion, especially ahead of the forthcoming elections.
“Investors can only come into the state when there is peace, and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been working tirelessly to attract investment. Security is therefore key to the state’s development,” Oladiji added.
Other lawmakers, in their contributions, commended the CP for his openness but raised concerns over rising cases of car theft in Akure. They called for strategic deployment of officers to curb the menace and suggested regular intelligence-sharing meetings among security agencies.
Earlier,Commissioner Lawal expressed gratitude to the Assembly for its continuous support to the police and assured the lawmakers of his commitment to sustaining peace in the state.
He noted that the relative peace in Ondo State was a result of strong synergy between the executive and legislative arms of government, as well as the unwavering support of Governor Aiyedatiwa.
Lawal recalled that participants of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and Vice President Kashim Shettima had recently described Ondo State as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.
The police boss, however, acknowledged the existence of “pockets of crime” but assured that his command was working to ensure they do not escalate. He emphasized that the police were not rivals to any security agency but partners working in harmony to safeguard lives and property.
“We cannot achieve success alone. The relative peace in Ondo State is the product of collaboration among the police, military, civil defence, air force, navy, immigration, Amotekun, vigilantes, and other groups. We must continue to uphold this spirit of cooperation,” Lawal said.
He further commended the Inspector-General of Police for providing additional logistics, including a gunboat to strengthen security along the waterways, and the state government for donating patrol vehicles to boost operations.
The CP pledged to consolidate the gains already recorded and called for the Assembly’s continued support to make Ondo State a model of peace and development.
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