State Police Will Bring Security Closer to Nigerians  — IGP Disu

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has said the establishment of state police will bring security operations closer to Nigerians, strengthen community policing, and improve intelligence gathering across the country.

Disu stated that decentralising policing would allow security agencies to better understand local security challenges, respond faster to threats, and build stronger relationships between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.

The police chief made the remarks while speaking on the proposed state police initiative, which has gained renewed attention following ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture and address rising security concerns across different parts of the country.

According to the IGP, state police would intensify the concept of community-based policing by allowing officers who understand the language, culture, and peculiar security needs of their communities to play a greater role in maintaining law and order.

He explained that effective policing depends heavily on intelligence, adding that closer interaction between security personnel and residents would make it easier to gather timely information needed to prevent crimes and track criminal networks.

Disu, however, noted that the implementation of state police requires careful planning, extensive consultations, comparative studies, and adequate capacity building to ensure the system works effectively when fully operationalised.

The IGP stressed that the introduction of state police would not mean the abolition of the Nigeria Police Force, explaining that both structures would operate within clearly defined responsibilities to improve national security.

His comments come amid ongoing constitutional and legislative moves towards creating state police in Nigeria, with the proposed reform seeking to decentralise the country’s current policing structure, which is largely controlled by the Federal Government.

The Senate had earlier advanced the state police proposal by passing a Constitution Alteration Bill, moving the process to state Houses of Assembly where approval from at least 24 legislatures is required before the amendment can progress.

Disu has previously expressed support for the idea, describing state police as an opportunity to strengthen policing partnerships and create a more responsive security system for Nigerians.

The move has received support from many security experts and stakeholders who argue that Nigeria’s diverse security challenges require a more localized policing approach, especially in addressing crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, communal clashes, and other threats.

However, critics have continued to raise concerns over possible political interference, misuse of power, and the need for strong accountability mechanisms to prevent abuse by state authorities.

The IGP maintained that proper frameworks, training, oversight, and professional standards would be necessary to ensure that any state police structure operates effectively and respects the rights of citizens.

He added that the ultimate goal of the reform is to create a security system that is more responsive, intelligence-driven, and capable of protecting Nigerians at the grassroots level.

The proposed state police system remains one of the major security reforms being considered in Nigeria as authorities continue efforts to address evolving security challenges across the country.

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