President Bola Tinubu’s quest for the creation of state police yesterday inched towards practicality as the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, has inaugurated a high-powered committee to develop a framework for its implementation, declaring that decentralised policing “has come to stay.”
Top Society had reported that Tinubu during the breaking of fast with senators at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last week Wednesday, urged the leadership of the 10th Senate to initiate constitutional amendments to provide for the establishment of state police.
The President said decentralised policing would strengthen security at the grassroots and improve rapid response to threats within states, noting that the current centralised structure required constitutional review to accommodate the proposed reform.
In furtherance of ongoing discussions on policing reforms, Disu delineated the task of the state police committee to include examining the concept of state policing as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture and improve community-based policing.
He said the committee would review existing policing models within and outside Nigeria, assess community security needs, propose an operational framework for state police structures, and address issues of recruitment, training, standards, funding, accountability and oversight.
“Among other responsibilities, the committee is expected to review existing policing models within and outside Nigeria, assess community security needs and emerging risks across the country, propose an operational framework for the establishment and coordination of State Police structures, address issues relating to recruitment, training, standards, and resource allocation and develop robust accountability and oversight mechanisms to ensure professionalism and public trust,” he said.
The inspector-general said state police formation could provide localised policing services focused on community safety, conflict prevention, neighbourhood patrols, and early response to emerging threats.
The committee, chaired by Professor Olu Ogunsakin, has four weeks to submit its report. Other members include CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (retd), CP Bode Ojajuni, DCP Okebuchi Ogora, ACP Ikechukwu Okafor, CSP Tolulope Ipinmisho and others.
The panel is to develop a workable framework through which state policing can operate without undermining national security. They will also address the issues of recruitment, training standards, funding, accountability and oversight mechanisms to ensure professionalism and sustain public trust.
Highlighting that the Nigeria Police Force is not threatened by the reform, the IGP maintained that the decentralisation will allow state and local authorities to respond more effectively to internal security challenges, while the Federal Government focuses on broader national priorities.
