Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has directed officers of the Nigeria Police Force to begin preparing for the proposed establishment of state police, revealing that the Federal Government is fully committed to implementing the long-debated security reform.
Speaking at a one-day workshop on state policing on Thursday, Disu said the police hierarchy must take the lead in educating officers on the objectives, structure and benefits of the proposed system in order to dispel concerns surrounding the initiative.
He described the planned introduction of state police as one of the most significant security reforms currently being considered in Nigeria, noting that its successful implementation would have far-reaching implications for the country’s security architecture.
According to the police chief, discussions on state policing have progressed through several stages, including committee work, constitutional amendment deliberations and the development of an implementation framework.
Disu stressed that many officers still have reservations about the proposed reform, making it necessary for police leadership to provide adequate information and guidance.
He said officers attending the workshop were expected to gain a thorough understanding of the framework so they could return to their various commands and educate colleagues on how the new policing structure is expected to function.
The Inspector-General maintained that the proposed reform is not solely a police initiative but a national policy being driven by the Federal Government in the interest of Nigerians.
“The Federal Government has made up its mind to establish state police, and it is our responsibility to support that process,” he said.
Disu commended the Director-General of the National Institute of Police Studies and Head of the Nigeria Police Reform Secretariat, Professor Olu Ogunsakin, for his contributions to the development of the state policing framework.
He disclosed that although some initially believed the police should remain passive because discussions on state policing were already underway, the Force chose instead to establish its own committee to contribute meaningfully to the national conversation.
According to him, while the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had already made substantial progress on its own framework, the police committee worked quickly and produced its draft within 17 days, which has since become part of the documents being considered in ongoing deliberations.
The IGP noted, however, that the framework remains a work in progress and will continue to receive input from stakeholders before its final adoption.
He also revealed that retired Inspectors-General of Police had met with him to offer recommendations aimed at strengthening the proposal.
Disu further explained that the committee carried out comparative studies of policing models in countries such as India, the United States and Pakistan to identify practices that could guide Nigeria’s implementation of state policing.
He urged participants to actively contribute ideas and recommendations during the workshop, expressing confidence that their contributions would help shape a more effective policing system for the country.
