The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has faulted the state Police bill, stating that Nigeria is not mature for state police.
Egbetokun spoke on Monday at a national dialogue on state police organised by the Nigerian’s House of Representatives in Intercontinental Hotel, former Sheraton Hotel in Abuja
The theme of the dialogue is ‘Pathways to Peace: Re-imagining Policing in Nigeria’.
The IGP who was Represented by Ben Okolo, an assistant Inspector-General of Police, said Nigeria is not ready for a decentralised police force.
“It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria police force that Nigeria is yet to mature for the establishment of state-controlled police,” he said.
According to him, “There have been renewed calls for the establishment of state police following an uptick in kidnappings, banditry and violent attacks across the country.”
He said, “On February 15, the federal government set up a committee to explore the creation of state police, amid the spate of insecurity in the country.”
“On February 20, a bill to establish state police passed second reading at the house of representatives.”
The IGP said rather than create state police, the challenges mitigating against effective policing in Nigeria should be addressed.
He went further, listed some of the challenges as inadequate manpower, inadequate operational equipment such as vehicles, arms and ammunition, communication equipment, drones, aerial surveillance cameras, security surveillance helicopters, armoured vehicles, and inadequate training of personnel.
He continued, “These challenges have impacted negatively on the performance of police personnel. He also said state police is open to abuse from powerful state governors.”
The IGP also noted that, there is the potential for abuse of power by the state political leadership. State governors could use the police force under their control for political or personal gain and compromise human rights and security,” he said.
“There would also be a conflict of jurisdiction.”
The IGP therefore proposed that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) should be merged to become a department in the police.
“In view of this, the police leadership recommended the above instead of creating state police,” he said.
He said the recruitment of police personnel into the force should be increased by at least 30,000 annually to meet the minimum policing standard of the United Nations.
Ibrahim Gaidam, Minister of Police Affairs
Egbetokun’s stance contrasted with that of Ibrahim Gaidam, Minister of Police Affairs, who backed the establishment of state police.
In his speech, the Minister of Police affairs, Sen. Gaidam, who spoke at the event, said a more decentralised police force will help tackle rising insecurity in the country.
“It is clearly imperative to come together to discuss this critical issues and work towards finding sustainable solutions that will ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians.”
“As we gather here today our objective is clear, to explore ways and means of addressing these issues including the possibility of establishing the state police force to combat the crises. Am here to highlight the merits and challenges of implementing state police in Nigeria. I will emphasize that state police can enhance local exclusiveness.”
