ABUJA, Nigeria — Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has disclosed that the committee working on Nigeria’s proposed state police framework examined policing models from India, the United States and Pakistan as part of efforts to develop a structure suited to the country’s security and constitutional realities.
The Inspector-General said the comparative study was undertaken to identify best practices from federal systems where policing responsibilities are shared between national and sub-national authorities. According to him, the committee carefully reviewed how the selected countries organise, supervise and coordinate their policing institutions.
Disu explained that the objective was not to replicate any foreign model in its entirety but to draw useful lessons that could guide the development of a framework tailored to Nigeria’s unique social, political and security environment. He stressed that any eventual state police structure must reflect the country’s constitutional provisions and national interests.
The police chief noted that the committee considered issues such as operational coordination, accountability mechanisms, recruitment standards, funding arrangements, intelligence sharing and oversight structures while examining the experiences of the three countries. These factors, he said, are essential to ensuring that any future policing framework remains effective and accountable.
He further stated that security challenges across Nigeria have continued to fuel discussions on policing reforms, with many stakeholders advocating greater decentralisation to improve response times and strengthen community-based policing. At the same time, concerns have been raised about possible political interference, funding constraints and the need for effective oversight.
Disu emphasised that any proposal on state policing must strike a balance between improving local security and preserving national unity. He maintained that appropriate legal safeguards, institutional checks and clear operational guidelines would be necessary to ensure professionalism and prevent abuse of policing powers.
The Inspector-General reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing public safety, improving operational effectiveness and building greater public confidence in law enforcement institutions. He added that collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, lawmakers and other stakeholders would be critical to the success of any policing reform.
Security experts have argued that international policing models can provide valuable insights but caution that solutions must be adapted to Nigeria’s specific circumstances rather than copied directly. They maintain that issues such as constitutional authority, funding, accountability and inter-agency cooperation should remain central to any state police framework.
The committee is expected to continue consultations with relevant stakeholders before submitting its recommendations. The Inspector-General expressed confidence that the process would contribute to a policing framework capable of strengthening security while supporting the rule of law and protecting the rights of all Nigerians.
