Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu has expressed confidence that the proposed State police system will strengthen community policing, improve intelligence gathering and bring law enforcement closer to the people.
Disu made the remarks during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York on Friday, where he highlighted the potential benefits of decentralising policing while acknowledging that the initiative remains at an early stage.
According to the police chief, implementing State police will require extensive consultations, capacity building and careful study of countries already operating similar policing structures before it can be fully introduced.
“We are still at the teething stage. We need experience, education and comparative studies from jurisdictions already practising state police,” he said.
Disu noted that creating state-controlled police services would enhance cooperation between federal and state security institutions while allowing officers to develop stronger relationships with the communities they serve.
He explained that policing would become more effective because officers would possess better knowledge of local environments and security challenges.
“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,” the IGP stated.
He added that stronger community engagement would improve intelligence gathering, increase public confidence in law enforcement and enable quicker responses to emerging security threats.
Disu also reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to embracing innovation, professionalism and strategic partnerships aimed at sustaining national peace, security and development.
The proposed State Police Bill seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution. If approved, the legislation would empower state governments to establish, finance and operate their own police services alongside the federally controlled Nigeria Police Force.
Speaking on Nigeria’s international security contributions, Disu, who attended the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit at the UN headquarters in New York, said the country remains one of the organisation’s most reliable contributors to global peacekeeping operations.
He praised Nigerian police officers and other security personnel serving in various UN missions, noting that the country’s commitment dates back to its first peacekeeping deployment to Congo in 1960.
According to him, Nigerian personnel have consistently distinguished themselves in international assignments despite the heavy sacrifices made over the years.
“There is virtually no UN mission where you will not find Nigerian personnel serving with distinction,” he said.
Disu added that Nigeria has lost several police personnel during peacekeeping operations, describing those sacrifices as evidence of the country’s unwavering commitment to global peace and stability.
“The United Nations will never joke with Nigeria’s contributions because of our commitment and sacrifices,” the Inspector-General said.
