IGP Says Nigeria Not Ripe For State Police

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun on Monday, April 22, 2024, insisted that Nigeria is not ripe for state police.

Addressing participants at a one-day dialogue on state policing, the IGP insisted that the establishment of state police would exacerbate ethnic tension, leading to divided loyalty in the states. 

Egbetokun, who was represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Ben Okolo, posited that the establishment of state police will also lead to multiple command structures in the states. 

While further contending that governors were likely to abuse the privilege of state police by using it for political gains, leading to possible abuse of power and abuse of human rights, the police boss declared that state government lacked the required funding that would give birth to the type of policing that the nation requires. 

Egbetokun recommended the merging of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to form a department in the police force. 

The police helmsman further recommended the need for a yearly recruitment of about 30,000 police personnel into the force annually to meet the UN requirements for modern policing, while also increasing annual budgetary allocation to the force. 

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