Kayode Egbetokun, The Inspector General of Police (IGP) believes the country is not “mature” for state policing despite the myriad of security challenges facing it.
Egbetokun spoke on Monday during a national dialogue on state police held in Abuja.
The national dialogue has its theme as ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria’.
He said “On the issue of state police, it is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that Nigeria is not yet mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police,” the IGP, represented by AIG Ben Okolo, said at the event organised by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
The IGP argued among other factors, that “there is the potential for abuse of power by the state political leadership.
“State governors could use the police forces under their control for political or personal gain and undermine human rights and security.
“There would also be a conflict of jurisdiction,” he said.
He suggested other things to make the police better in securing the country.
“First, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety to form a department under the Nigerian police,” he said.
