IGP Tunji Disu says state police will improve community policing and intelligence gathering in Nigeria but notes implementation remains at an early stage, requiring consultations, comparative studies and capacity building.
Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu has said the establishment of state police in Nigeria will deepen community policing, improve intelligence gathering and bring law enforcement closer to the people it serves.
Disu made the remarks in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York on Friday, on the sidelines of the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit at UN headquarters.
State police still at teething stage, consultations ongoing
The police chief was candid about where the implementation process currently stands, tempering expectations with a realistic assessment of what remains to be done.
“We are still at the teething stage. We need experience, education and comparative studies from jurisdictions already practising state police,” he said.
Disu said implementation would involve extensive consultations, comparative studies and capacity building before full operationalisation and expressed confidence that the initiative would strengthen collaboration between federal and state security institutions.
Policing closer to the people
Disu framed the value of state police in human terms, pointing to the erosion of community familiarity that came with centralised policing.
“It will bring policing closer to the people because officers will better understand the communities they serve. It will take us back to the era when almost everybody knew those policing their communities,” he said.
The IGP said closer community engagement would improve intelligence gathering, public trust and rapid response to security threats. He reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to innovation, professionalism and strategic partnerships to sustain peace, stability and national development.
What the State Police Bill proposes
The State Police Bill seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution. If passed, it would empower state governments to establish, fund and operate their own police forces alongside the Nigeria Police Force, which is currently centrally controlled by the Federal Government.
Nigeria’s UN peacekeeping record
Speaking on the broader context of his New York visit, Disu highlighted Nigeria’s longstanding contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations, tracing the country’s participation back to the Congo mission in 1960.
“There is virtually no UN mission where you will not find Nigerian personnel serving with distinction,” he said.
He described Nigeria as one of the United Nations’ most dependable peacekeeping contributors, noting that the country has contributed troops, police officers and made significant sacrifices, including the loss of personnel in service of global peace.
“The United Nations will never joke with Nigeria’s contributions because of our commitment and sacrifices,” Disu said.
He added that Nigeria has never failed in any of its UN peacekeeping missions, describing the country’s record as a source of global pride.
The state police debate has been one of the most contentious governance conversations in Nigeria in recent years, with proponents arguing that decentralised policing will improve security response times and community trust, while critics raise concerns about potential abuse by state governors and the risk of politicising law enforcement.
