ABUJA — The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has formally presented a comprehensive framework for the establishment of state police to the Senate, marking a significant step toward the decentralisation of policing in Nigeria.
The 75-page document was submitted on Thursday to the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, who also chairs the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. The presentation took place at his office within the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Deputy Senate President, Ismail Mudashir, the framework was delivered on behalf of the IGP by Professor Olu Ogunsakin. Ogunsakin heads the committee established by the Nigeria Police Force to develop modalities for the creation of state policing structures.
Titled “A Comprehensive Framework for the Establishment, Governance and Coordination of Federal and State Police,” the report outlines proposed operational procedures, governance systems, and coordination mechanisms between federal and state law enforcement bodies.
Speaking on the submission, Disu said the report reflects extensive consultations and professional input from within the Force, as well as a thorough evaluation of the legal, administrative, and operational implications of instituting state police.
“The report covers the considered views, professional insights, and strategic recommendations of the Force,” the IGP stated. “It is our expectation that the contents will meaningfully contribute to ongoing deliberations and assist in shaping informed, balanced, and pragmatic decisions on this critical aspect of national security architecture.”
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He noted that the document represents the official position of the Nigeria Police Force and has been forwarded to support legislative considerations on the matter.
In his response, Senator Jibrin commended the IGP’s proactive initiative, describing it as timely and aligned with the security reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He assured that the Senate committee would carefully review the submission alongside other memoranda received as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
The move toward establishing state police has remained a contentious but increasingly prominent issue in Nigeria’s security discourse, with proponents arguing it would enhance localised policing and improve response to security challenges across the country.
