Nigeria’s State Police Framework Draws From US, India, Pakistan Models – IGP

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has revealed that the Nigeria Police Force studied policing structures in the United States, India and Pakistan while developing the framework for the proposed state police system.

Disu disclosed this on Thursday at a workshop on state policing in Abuja, where senior police officers gathered to examine the proposed structure and address concerns over its implementation.

According to the police chief, the committee constituted by the Force carried out extensive comparative research into countries operating decentralised policing systems before producing recommendations tailored to Nigeria’s security realities.

He said the workshop was designed to educate senior officers on the proposed model and address fears surrounding the introduction of state police.

“The most important thing is we are leading hundreds of officers who must be told about state police, who must be educated about state police to alleviate their fears, because there are fears everywhere. It is our duty to educate them and let them know what state police is all about,” Disu said.

The Inspector-General stated that the Federal Government had already taken a decision to establish state police, adding that the Nigeria Police Force was committed to supporting the process.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has made up its mind to have state police, and it is our duty to assist them to achieve it. This is not the issue of us only. This is the issue of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria,” he said.

Disu urged participants at the workshop to critically review the proposed framework and contribute ideas capable of strengthening its implementation.

Reflecting on the committee’s assignment, he said there was initial resistance from some quarters, with concerns that the Force did not need to prepare its own framework because a policy decision had already been taken.

“Argument arose that decisions had been taken and we should just sit down and be complacent and not do anything about it. I’m happy we quickly agreed to set up a committee,” he said.

According to him, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had already concluded work on its own committee before the police team commenced its assignment.

“The governors have already set up their committee. They have already almost concluded. In fact, they have concluded. We started late. We caught up with them, and I’m happy to say our work is what they are deliberating on today,” he added.

Disu disclosed that the committee produced the first draft of the framework within 17 days, describing it as the foundation of the ongoing discussions on state policing.

He also said retired Inspectors-General of Police had reviewed the document and made additional recommendations to strengthen it.

Highlighting the committee’s research, the police chief said members examined the operational models of countries with state policing systems before preparing the Nigerian framework.

“A lot of comparative analysis has been done. We have taken time to study nations where they have state police, India, America and even Pakistan and how things work there,” he said.