Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has said the proposed establishment of state police will strengthen community policing, improve intelligence gathering and enhance collaboration between federal and state security institutions.
Disu stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in New York, where he stressed that the initiative would bring policing closer to the people while improving the country’s overall security architecture.
He, however, noted that the implementation of state police would require extensive consultations, capacity building and comparative studies of countries already operating similar policing systems before it could be fully operational.
“We are still at the teething stage. We need experience, education and comparative studies from jurisdictions already practising state police,” he said.
The Inspector-General said the proposed policing structure would enable officers to develop a better understanding of the communities they serve, thereby strengthening intelligence gathering, public confidence and rapid responses to security threats.
“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 added.
Disu reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to professionalism, innovation and strategic partnerships aimed at sustaining peace, stability and national development.
The proposed State Police Bill seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution, a development that would empower state governments to establish, fund and operate their own police forces alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit at the UN Headquarters in New York, the IGP also highlighted Nigeria’s longstanding contributions to global peacekeeping operations.
He described Nigeria as one of the United Nations’ most dependable peacekeeping partners, noting that the country has consistently deployed police officers and troops to UN missions across the world.
According to him, Nigeria’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations began with the Congo mission in 1960 and has remained uninterrupted since then.
“There is virtually no UN mission where you will not find Nigerian personnel serving with distinction,” he said.
Disu also paid tribute to Nigerian security personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in international peacekeeping operations, saying their dedication has earned the country global recognition.
“The United Nations will never joke with Nigeria’s contributions because of our commitment and sacrifices,” he said.
