By Abuja, Nigeria
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has inaugurated a Committee on State Policing, describing the initiative as a critical step toward strengthening Nigeria’s internal security framework and deepening community-based law enforcement.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday in Abuja, Disu said the committee’s assignment was both significant and timely, stressing that Nigeria’s evolving security challenges require innovative thinking, strategic collaboration and bold reforms.
According to the IGP, the committee is tasked with developing a workable framework for the operation of state policing without undermining the national security structure. He explained that members would examine existing policing models within and outside Nigeria, assess community security needs, identify potential risks and propose an operational structure for the establishment and coordination of state police systems.
Disu added that the panel would also address key issues including recruitment procedures, training standards, resource allocation, and accountability and oversight mechanisms to ensure professionalism and sustain public trust.
The police chief emphasised that decentralising certain policing responsibilities would enable state governments and local authorities to respond more effectively to security challenges within their jurisdictions, while allowing the Federal Government to focus on broader national priorities.
Addressing concerns that state governors could hijack state police structures for political purposes, Disu assured that such fears would be carefully considered in designing the framework. He noted that Nigeria would draw lessons from comparative studies of countries already operating state policing systems.
Meanwhile, senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force, including Deputy Inspectors-General who served under the immediate past IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, attended a strategic meeting convened by Disu in Abuja. Those present at the meeting included DIGs Frank Mba, Sadiq Abubakar, Basil Idgwu, Bzigu Kwazhi, Gumel, Fayoade, and Adeola Hamzat.
The committee, which has four weeks to submit its report, is chaired by Olu Ogunsakin and includes Retired CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, CP Bode Ojajuni, DCP Okebuchi Ogora, ACP Ikechukwu Okafor, CSP Tolulope Ipinmisho, among others., Sadiq Abubakar, Basil Idgwu, Bzigu Kwazhi, Gumel, Fayoade and Adeola Hamzat.
