State police, not community policing, will be used to combat Nigeria's escalating insecurity, according to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

When the leadership of the National Association of Ex-Local Government Chairmen in Nigeria paid him a visit in Abeokuta, Obasanjo made the idea.

The delegation was led by pioneer National Chairman, Hon. Albert Asipa, according to a statement by spokesman Kehinde Akinyemi.

Obasanjo praised the body's founding, adding that some of the country's local chairmen were better than some of the country's top elected officials.

Chinwe Monu-Olarewaju, one of the presenters, spoke about the development of community police, and the ex-Head of State suggested the notion should be upgraded.

“Our situation in Nigeria concerns everyone, particularly the case of terrorism. It has gotten over the issue of community police.

“It is now State Police. It is from that state police that we can now be talking about community police, "he said.

Obasanjo advocated the strengthening of the traditional system and local government administration which he prepared during the Murtala/Obasanjo administration.

“I believe there is a need to enable that tier of government to work truly like a local government. They have their own executive, judiciary, and legislature.

“They were working and were very visible. Building and managing roads, looking into education, health, local administration, and agriculture. But they were all gone, "he lamented.

Obasanjo went on to say that the expertise of the ex-chairmen in local government administration was sufficient for them to aspire to higher positions.

Obasanjo, who was given a letter of life patronage, promised that he would look into their request and that he would always be accessible on request.