IGP Sets Up 8-Member Committee on State Police Reform

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has formally set the stage for the rollout of state policing in Nigeria with the inauguration of an eight-member implementation committee. The event, held in Abuja on Wednesday, signals a firm commitment by the police leadership to advance the long-debated reform amid mounting security challenges nationwide.

Disu told senior officers that the introduction of state police would complement, not weaken, the existing structure of the Nigeria Police Force. He emphasised that the initiative is anchored on partnership and strategic coordination, assuring personnel that their responsibilities within the country’s security system remain vital. The committee has been given a one-month deadline to submit recommendations.

According to the IGP, the panel is expected to craft a practical framework that aligns state policing with national security objectives while reflecting Nigeria’s diversity. He noted that decentralising law enforcement could improve intelligence gathering at the grassroots and ensure quicker responses to threats if carefully designed and properly executed.

The development comes days after President Bola Tinubu urged the National Assembly to commence constitutional amendments to accommodate state police. The president argued that reforming the security architecture would strengthen efforts to curb banditry, insurgency and other violent crimes that have persisted across several regions of the country.