Nigeria Police Force Opposes Establishment of State Police

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has expressed opposition to the idea of creating state police, citing concerns over the nation’s insufficient resources and infrastructure for such a restructuring of the force.

Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), conveyed this stance on Monday during a national dialogue on state police organized by the House of Representatives in Abuja.

The theme of the dialogue, titled ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria,’ underscored the importance of the discussion.

Represented by Ben Okolo, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Egbetokun argued that Nigeria is not ready for the establishment of state police due to the inadequate resources available for police infrastructure.

He also raised apprehensions that state governors could exploit the advantage of state police for political purposes, potentially resulting in the misuse of power and violations of human rights.

Furthermore, he contended that individual state governments lack the necessary funding to establish the level of policing required by the nation.

“On the difficulty of state police, it’s the submission of the management of the Nigeria Police Pressure that Nigeria is but to mature and prepared for the institution of state-controlled police.
That is as a result of underlying causes akin to lack of sufficient sources in place for police infrastructure like police schools, coaching faculties, barracks, stations and automobiles for the state authorities.
“Once more, there are potential for abuse of energy by state political management. State governors might use police forces underneath their management for political or private acquire and undermine human rights and safety.
“Creating state police in the intervening time will exacerbate ethnic stress within the nation. It might equally result in potential for dividend loyalty as there will probably be a number of instructions within the state,” Egbetokun mentioned.

He, nevertheless, really helpful the merging of the Nigeria Safety and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Highway Security Fee to kind a division within the Nigeria Police Pressure.

He additionally mentioned there’s a want for a yearly recruitment of about 30,000 police personnel into the drive to satisfy the United Nations necessities for contemporary policing, whereas additionally growing annual budgetary allocation to the drive.

What you need to know

The problem of state police has been a steady debate within the Nigeria political and socioeconomic panorama for over a decade.

In February, Nairametrics reported that the Federal Authorities and the governors of the 36 states mentioned they have been contemplating the creation of state police as a part of measures to handle the worsening safety challenges throughout the nation.
This was a part of the deliberations at an emergency assembly between President Bola Tinubu and the state governors on the Presidential Villa, in Abuja on February 15, 2024.
This was made recognized by the Minister of Data and Nationwide Orientation, Mohammed Idris, whereas addressing State Home correspondents after the assembly.
“There may be additionally a dialogue across the situation of state police. The Federal Authorities and the state governments are mulling the potential of organising state police.
“After all, that is nonetheless going to be additional mentioned. A variety of work needs to be finished in that route. But when our authorities and the state governments comply with the need of getting state police, this can be a vital shift.
“Like I mentioned, extra work must be finished in that route. A variety of conferences should occur between the Federal Authorities and dissolved nationals to see the modalities of attaining this,” Idris mentioned.