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Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, said the proposed state police establishment will strengthen community policing, improve intelligence gathering and enhance collaboration between federal and state security institutions.
IGP Disu stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York.
He stressed that the initiative would bring the police closer to the people, while improving the country’s overall security architecture.
The Poluce chief, however, noted that the implementation of state policing would require extensive consultations, capacity building and comparative studies of countries already using similar policing systems before they could be fully operational.
“We are still in the early stages. We need experience, training and comparative studies from jurisdictions that already operate state police,” he said.
The IGP said the proposed policing structure would enable officers to develop a better understanding of the communities they serve, thereby strengthening intelligence gathering, public trust and rapid responses to security threats.
“It will bring the police closer to the people because officers will better understand the communities they serve. It will take us back to a time when almost everyone knew those who policed their communities,” he added.
Disu reaffirmed the Nigerian Police Force’s commitment to professionalism, innovation and strategic partnerships aimed at supporting peace, stability and national development.
The proposed State Police Bill seeks to move policing activities from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution, a development that would allow state governments to establish, fund and manage their own police forces alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations Police Chiefs Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the IGP also highlighted Nigeria’s long-standing contribution to global peacekeeping operations.
He described Nigeria as one of the United Nations’ most reliable peacekeeping partners, noting that the country has consistently deployed police officers and troops to United Nations missions around the world.
According to IGP Disu, 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 United Nations mission where you will not find Nigerian personnel serving with distinction,” he said.
He 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,” the police chief said.
