Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has expressed confidence that the proposed establishment of state police will strengthen community policing, improve intelligence gathering, and bring security services closer to Nigerians.
Speaking in New York on Friday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Disu said the implementation of state police would require careful planning, broad consultations, comparative studies, and capacity building before it becomes fully operational.
According to him, the country is still at the early stages of the process and must study successful models from other jurisdictions before rolling out the initiative.
Disu noted that state police would enhance cooperation between federal and state security agencies while enabling officers to better understand the communities they serve.
He explained that closer engagement with local communities would improve intelligence gathering, strengthen public trust, and ensure faster responses to security threats.
The police chief reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to professionalism, innovation, and strategic partnerships aimed at promoting peace, stability, and national development.
The proposed State Police Bill seeks to transfer policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution, allowing state governments to establish, fund, and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
Disu, who attended the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit at the UN Headquarters, also highlighted Nigeria’s longstanding contributions to global peacekeeping missions.
He recalled that Nigeria began participating in UN peacekeeping operations in Congo in 1960 and has since remained one of the organisation’s most dependable contributors.
According to the IGP, Nigerian police officers have served with distinction in peacekeeping missions worldwide, while many have made the ultimate sacrifice in the course of duty.
He added that the country’s commitment and sacrifices have earned Nigeria global respect within the United Nations peacekeeping framework.
