Former Chief of Defence Staff Lucky Irabor has urged Nigeria to address the structural weaknesses affecting the Nigeria Police Force before fully implementing state police, warning that existing problems could simply be transferred to the states.
Speaking on Thursday, July 9, at the ARISE News Town Hall on State Police, Irabor said the debate should focus on devolving command and control rather than merely expanding police presence at the grassroots.
“Before I address your question, let me bring greater clarity to what I consider to be a misconception regarding state police,” Irabor said.
He noted that police stations already exist in communities across the country.
“When people say policing needs to get to the grassroots and state police will help achieve that, I think they miss the point. State police versus federal police is really about command and control. Which level exercises command? Which level has the authority to respond more quickly and improve law enforcement? That is where state police comes in.”
Irabor said the proposal is not about recruiting officers from local communities because every local government already has representation in the federal police.
“It is not about whether officers will be recruited from the communities… What we are looking at is a structure where command and control are sufficiently devolved to ensure quicker responses to security challenges.”
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While expressing confidence that state police would become a reality, he cautioned that reforms must begin with fixing the federal police.
“When state police fully come on stream, the disease that has infected the federal police must be addressed at its roots so that it does not infect the state police as well.”
He identified logistics, equipment, training and organisational structure as critical issues requiring attention.
“For state police, the same standards must apply. Training establishments need to be created. Training protocols, equipment standards and operational guidelines must all be clearly specified.”
Irabor concluded that Nigeria must build a professional police force capable of earning public confidence.
“What we must now ensure is that we build a potent police force… Those are the issues we must address if we are to make meaningful progress,” he added.