The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunju Rilwan Disu, has formally inaugurated a Steering Committee on the Establishment of State Police, described the move as a critical step toward strengthening Nigeria’s internal security architecture and enhancing community-based policing.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the IGP said the task before the committee was both “significant and timely,” as Nigeria continues to grapple with evolving security challenges that demand innovative thinking, strategic collaboration and bold reforms.
According to him, the concept of State Police is being carefully examined as part of broader national efforts to improve security governance, bring policing closer to the people and deepen community participation in crime prevention.
Disu noted that the committee’s work would help shape a viable framework through which State Policing could operate in a manner that strengthens rather than fragments the country’s national security system. He urged members to approach their assignment with professionalism, objectivity and a clear understanding of the complexities of policing a diverse nation like Nigeria.
He outlined the committee’s key responsibilities to include reviewing existing policing models within and outside Nigeria, assessing community security needs and emerging risks, proposing an operational framework for State Police structures, and addressing issues related to recruitment, training, standards and resource allocation. The committee is also expected to develop robust accountability and oversight mechanisms to guarantee professionalism and public trust.
The IGP highlighted the potential benefits of a well-structured State Police system, explained that bringing law enforcement closer to communities would deepen local knowledge of security dynamics and enable quicker, more targeted responses to threats. He added that enhanced familiarity with local cultures and languages would improve intelligence gathering and strengthen cooperation between citizens and security agencies.
Disu further stated that decentralising certain policing responsibilities could ensure more efficient allocation of resources, allowing state governments to address peculiar security challenges within their jurisdictions while the Federal Government focuses on broader national priorities.
He also pointed to the economic and social advantages of the reform, noting that the establishment of State Police structures could create employment opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians, thereby contributing to national development.
The IGP, however, clarified that State Policing would not replace or diminish the constitutional role of the Nigeria Police Force. Rather, he described it as a complementary structure within a coordinated national security framework. He explained that the Nigeria Police Force would continue as the primary national law enforcement institution, particularly in tackling complex and transnational crimes such as terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime and trafficking networks.
He reassured officers and men of the Force that their relevance and responsibilities remain intact and indispensable, stressing that the vision behind the reform is “one of synergy, not competition; partnership, not duplication.”
Disu charged members of the committee to carry out their national assignment with diligence, intellectual rigour and patriotism, noting that their recommendations would guide policymakers in shaping a policing framework that safeguards democratic values and upholds the rule of law.
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. Other members include CP Bode Ojajuni as Secretary; DCP Okebechi Agora; DCP Suleyman Gulma; ACP Ikechukwu Okafor; CSP Tolulope Ipinmisho; and CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd), Provost, Police Public Relations School.
The IGP formally declared the committee inaugurated and wished members fruitful deliberations, expressing optimism that their work would significantly shape the future of policing in Nigeria.
