The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Wednesday inaugurated an eight-member Special Steering Committee on the implementation of state policing, urging members to discharge their duties with diligence, professionalism, and patriotism in the national interest.
The committee, comprising senior police officers and experts, was inaugurated shortly after Disu assumed office as the 23rd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police.
Speaking during the ceremony, the IGP described the initiative as a significant step toward strengthening the nation’s internal security architecture and enhancing community-based policing across the country.
“It is my great privilege to formally inaugurate this Committee on State Policing. The task before this committee is both significant and timely, as it speaks directly to the demand to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security and ensure that policing remains responsive to the realities of our communities,” he said.
Disu explained that the committee is expected to develop a workable framework through which state policing can operate in Nigeria without undermining the country’s national security structure.
According to him, the panel will review existing policing models within and outside Nigeria, assess community security needs, identify potential risks, and propose an operational structure for the establishment and coordination of state police systems.
He added that the committee would also address critical issues such as recruitment procedures, training standards, resource allocation, and the development of accountability and oversight mechanisms to ensure professionalism and sustain public trust in the policing system.
The IGP noted that if properly designed and implemented, state policing could bring law enforcement closer to the people, enhance local knowledge of security dynamics, and enable quicker responses to emerging threats within communities.
He further explained that decentralising certain policing responsibilities would allow state governments and local authorities to respond more effectively to security challenges within their jurisdictions, while the federal government focuses on broader national security priorities.
The IGP reassured officers and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force that the proposed state policing framework would not diminish the role of the federal police.
“The Nigeria Police Force will continue to play its constitutional role as the primary national law enforcement institution responsible for maintaining internal security across the federation,” he stated.
He emphasised that the reform is aimed at enhancing efficiency by allowing the federal police to concentrate on complex and transnational crimes such as terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, trafficking networks, and other security threats that require national coordination.
“The vision we seek is one of synergy, not competition; partnership, not duplication,” Disu stressed.
Members of the Special Steering Committee include Prof. Olu Ogunsakin, Director-General of the National Institute for Police Studies; CP Bode Ojajuni, who serves as Secretary; DCP Okebechi Agora; DCP Suleyman Gulma; ACP Ikechukwu Okafor; CSP Tolulope Ipinmisho; and CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd), Provost of the Police Public Relations School.
The IGP urged the members to approach their assignment with a strong sense of responsibility, noting that Nigerians’ expectations are high and that the committee’s recommendations would play a crucial role in shaping the future of policing in the country.