The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Wedesday formally inaugurated a Committee on State Police, tasking members to develop a framework that will strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture while preserving national cohesion.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the IGP described the assignment as both significant and timely, noting that the evolving security landscape across the country requires innovative thinking, strategic collaboration, and carefully considered reforms.
He said the concept of State Police is being examined as part of broader national efforts to improve security governance, bring policing closer to communities, and enhance citizen participation in crime prevention.
“The task before this Committee speaks directly to our collective determination to ensure that policing in our country remains responsive to the realities of our communities,” he stated.
According to the police chief, the committee has a critical responsibility to shape a framework through which State Policing may operate in a manner that strengthens, rather than fragments, Nigeria’s national security system. He urged members to be guided by professionalism, objectivity, and an appreciation of the complexities of policing a diverse nation.
The committee’s terms of reference include reviewing existing policing models within and outside Nigeria; assessing community security needs and emerging risks; proposing an operational framework for the establishment and coordination of State Police structures; addressing recruitment, training, standards, and resource allocation; and developing robust accountability and oversight mechanisms to ensure professionalism and public trust.
Disu highlighted several potential benefits of State Policing if properly designed and implemented. He said bringing law enforcement closer to communities would deepen local knowledge of security dynamics and enable quicker, more targeted responses to threats. He added that stronger relationships between officers and residents would enhance intelligence gathering and public confidence.
He also noted that decentralising certain policing responsibilities could lead to more efficient allocation of resources, with state governments better positioned to address local security concerns while the Federal Government focuses on broader national priorities.
The IGP further pointed to the reform’s economic dimension, stating that the establishment of State Police structures could create employment opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians while strengthening national security capacity.
However, he clarified that State Policing is not intended to replace or diminish the role of the Nigeria Police Force. Rather, it is envisioned as a complementary structure within a coordinated national security framework.
He reaffirmed that the Nigeria Police Force will continue to serve as the primary national law enforcement institution responsible for maintaining internal security across the federation. With the introduction of State Police, the Federal Police would be better positioned to concentrate on complex and transnational crimes such as terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, and trafficking networks that require national coordination and specialised capabilities.
“Let me reassure the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force that their relevance and professional importance within Nigeria’s security architecture remain intact and indispensable. The vision we seek is one of synergy, not competition; partnership, not duplication,” he said.
The Steering Committee on the Establishment of State Police is chaired by Prof. Olu Ogunsakin, Director-General of the National Institute for Police Studies, Jabi, Abuja, with Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni serving as Secretary.
Other members include Deputy Commissioners of Police Okebechi Agora and Suleyman Gulma; Assistant Commissioner of Police Ikechukwu Okafor; Chief Superintendent of Police Tolulope Ipinmisho; and retired Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojukwu, Provost of the Police Public Relations School.
Disu charged the committee members to approach their assignment with diligence, intellectual rigour, and patriotism, noting that their recommendations would guide policymakers in shaping a policing framework that safeguards democratic values, upholds the rule of law, and ensures accountability to the Nigerian people.
He thereafter formally declared the Committee on State Police inaugurated and wished members fruitful deliberations.