(DDM) — A coalition of Yoruba civil society, sociocultural, and self-determination groups under the umbrella of the Yoruba Assembly has rejected the Inspector General of Police’s proposed 60-month phased implementation roadmap for the creation of state police in Nigeria.
The groups faulted the proposal presented by the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, describing the timeline as unnecessarily delayed and disconnected from the urgency of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
They argued that the country’s current security realities require immediate structural reforms rather than prolonged transition plans that could stretch over several years.
According to the coalition, insecurity across several regions has already reached a level that demands swift decentralisation of policing powers to state governments.
The Yoruba Assembly maintained that state policing has become a critical national conversation, especially in the South-West, where concerns over kidnapping, banditry, and violent crimes continue to rise.
They insisted that delaying implementation for up to 60 months could worsen insecurity and undermine public confidence in security institutions.
The groups also called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to accelerate constitutional amendments that would enable states to establish and manage their own police forces.
They further argued that decentralised policing would improve response time, strengthen local intelligence gathering, and enhance community-based security operations.
Stakeholders within the coalition stressed that security solutions must reflect Nigeria’s diverse regional realities rather than a one-size-fits-all federal approach.
They urged broader consultations with traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and regional stakeholders to ensure that any final framework reflects grassroots expectations.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to continued advocacy on security reforms, stating that it would mobilise public opinion if necessary to push for faster implementation of state policing structures.
