Nigeria not ripe for State Police, says Inspector General

The Inspector General of Police in Nigeria Kayode Egbetokun has opposed the establishment of State Police, saying the country was not ripe for it.

Speaking at a one day dialogue on state policing, Egbetokun said the establishment of state Police will exacerbate ethnic tension, leading to divided loyalty in the States.

Represented by AIG Ben Okolo, the Inspector General of Police said the establishment of State Police will also lead to multiple command structures in the States.

He also said 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 huma rights.

He argued the State Government lacked required funding that will give birth to the type of policing that the nation requires.

Rather than establishing state police, he 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.

He also said there was 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.

This is coming on the heels of 16 Nigerian Governors endorsement of State police as panacea to the country’s insecurity.

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