IGP Tells Federal Police Officers To Prepare For State Police, Says Tinubu Govt
According to him, the immediate responsibility of the police leadership is to ensure that officers fully understand the concept and objectives of state policing.
Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu has called on officers of the police force to embrace the proposed creation of state police, saying the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu has made up its mind to establish the new policing structure and that the Force must play a leading role in educating personnel about the reform.
Declaring open a one-day workshop on state policing, the IGP described the proposed initiative as one of the most significant security reforms currently under consideration in Nigeria, noting that its outcome would have implications beyond the country's borders.
"This is a very important topic raging in the country today and in other parts of the world because everything that happens in Nigeria concerns the world," Disu said.
He explained that discussions on state police have advanced through several stages, including the establishment of committees, constitutional amendment deliberations and the development of an implementation framework.
According to him, the immediate responsibility of the police leadership is to ensure that officers fully understand the concept and objectives of state policing.
"We are leading hundreds of officers who must be told about state police, who must be educated about state police to allay their fears because there are fears everywhere, and it's our duty to educate them and let them know what state police is all about," he said.
Disu stressed that the proposed reform should not be viewed as a project of the Nigeria Police Force alone but as a national initiative being driven by the Federal Government in the interest of Nigerians.
"The Federal Government of Nigeria have made up their mind to have the state police, and it's our duty to assist them to achieve it," he said.
He added, "This is not the issue of us only. This is the issue of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria."
The Inspector-General urged participants at the workshop to actively engage in discussions and seek clarification on areas of concern so they would be equipped to enlighten officers in their respective commands.
"So the most important thing is to listen very well, ask questions, how this thing is going to work, so that we'll be able to go back and talk to our officers and educate them," he said.
Disu commended Professor Olu Ogunsakin, Director General, National Institute of Police Studies and Head, Nigeria Police Reform Secretariat, for his contributions to the development of the framework on state policing, describing him as a key resource person in the ongoing reform process.
The IGP recalled that although there were initial suggestions that the police should remain passive because decisions on state policing had already been taken, the Force instead opted to establish its own committee to contribute meaningfully to the national conversation.
"I'll go back to when we were about to start. Arguments arose that decisions have been taken and we should just sit down and be complacent and not do anything about it. I'm happy we quickly agreed to set up a committee," he stated.
He disclosed that although the Nigeria Governors' Forum had already constituted its committee and made significant progress, the police committee worked swiftly to catch up.
"The governors have already set up their committee. They have already almost concluded, in fact, they have concluded. We started late, we caught up with them, and I'm happy to say our work is what they are deliberating on today," Disu said.
According to him, the police committee produced the framework within just 17 days, laying the foundation for the ongoing national discussions.
"I think it took us 17 days only to come up with the framework that has become the genesis of what everybody is working on today," he said.
Disu, however, noted that the framework remains a work in progress and would continue to benefit from expert input before its final adoption.
"We still need to put some finishing touches to it," he said.
He further disclosed that retired Inspectors-General of Police had met with him to offer recommendations aimed at strengthening the proposed framework.
"Retired Inspectors-General of Police have visited me, and they have shown their concern, and we have deliberated, and they have put in their contributions into this as well," he said.
The IGP encouraged participants to critically examine the framework and make further contributions to ensure that all important issues are adequately addressed.
"You have the opportunity to help us to look at it so that every detail, every important detail that will be needed, should be input into it," he added.
Disu also revealed that the committee carried out comparative studies of policing systems in other federal countries to guide Nigeria's approach.
"A lot of comparative analysis have been done. We have taken time to study nations where they have state police: India, America, and even Pakistan, how things work there," he said.
He concluded by urging participants to approach the workshop with seriousness, saying their contributions would help shape the future of policing in Nigeria.
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