Police Deny Responsibility For Delay In Establishing State Police

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has denied any form of complicity in the delay in establishing State Police in Nigeria.

The clarification was made by the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, at a stakeholders’ security meeting in Awka, Anambra State.

He explained that the process is entirely dependent on constitutional amendments, and the creation of state police remains a legislative matter that falls within the powers of the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

IGP Disu, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-East, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, appealed to stakeholders to remain patient, noting that lawmakers were already working toward establishing state police through the required constitutional procedures.

“The power to create the state police is a constitutional issue that resides with the national and state assemblies.

“When the National Assembly makes provision to amend the law establishing the NPF and goes on to amend it, then two-thirds of the State Assemblies must consent to it,” he said.

While distancing the police from any delay in the process, Disu acknowledged that state police could strengthen efforts to combat crime and improve security nationwide.

The Inspector-General also stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between security agencies and citizens, arguing that effective policing cannot be achieved without community participation.

He urged residents to provide timely and credible information about criminal activities in their communities to enable swift intervention by security agencies.

According to him, improving security at the grassroots requires a collective effort involving traditional institutions, religious bodies, community leaders, civil society organisations, business groups and other stakeholders.

“There is a need for more collaboration with the police and other security agencies, as the security agencies alone cannot secure the country,” he said.

The stakeholders at the meeting urged the federal government to accelerate the process of creating state police, arguing that decentralised policing would enhance security management at the grassroots level.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, transmitted a Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police to the Senate as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to create a legal framework for the establishment of state police across the federation.

The move follows repeated calls by the President for constitutional reforms that would enable states to play a more active role in securing their territories.