The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Tunji Disu, has said the proposed establishment of state police will strengthen community policing, improve intelligence gathering and bring law enforcement closer to the people.
Disu stated this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit in New York, where he also assured the international community that Nigeria remains safe for citizens, investors and visitors.
The police chief said the proposed state policing framework was still at an early stage and would require extensive consultations, comparative studies and capacity building before implementation.
“We are still at the teething stage. We need experience, education and comparative studies from jurisdictions already practising state police,” he said.
According to the IGP, the initiative would foster stronger collaboration between federal and state security institutions while enhancing community-based policing.
He noted that officers operating within their local communities would have a better understanding of the people and their environment, thereby improving intelligence gathering, public trust and rapid response to security threats.
“It will bring policing closer to the people because officers will better understand the communities they serve. It will take us back to the era when almost everybody knew those policing their communities,” Disu said.
He reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to innovation, professionalism and strategic partnerships as part of efforts to sustain peace, stability and national development.
Speaking on Nigeria’s international security contributions, Disu said the country’s record in United Nations peacekeeping operations remains a source of pride, describing Nigeria as one of the UN’s most dependable contributors to global peace.
He recalled that Nigeria began participating in UN peacekeeping missions in Congo in 1960 and has consistently deployed troops and police personnel to various missions across the world.
“There is virtually no UN mission where you will not find Nigerian personnel serving with distinction,” he said.
The IGP also paid tribute to Nigerian security personnel who had made sacrifices in the course of peacekeeping operations, noting that the country’s commitment has earned it global recognition.
“The United Nations will never joke with Nigeria’s contributions because of our commitment and sacrifices,” he added.
Addressing concerns about Nigeria’s security situation, Disu assured foreign investors and visitors that security agencies were working tirelessly to safeguard lives and property across the country.
He argued that international perceptions of insecurity in Nigeria often differ from the realities experienced by those who visit the country.
“People hear stories about Nigeria, but when they visit, they are surprised by what they see. People are moving around freely,” he said.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by insurgency and banditry in some parts of the country, the IGP attributed the situation partly to the broader regional security crisis in the Sahel.
He stressed that security agencies were intensifying efforts to restore lasting peace through intelligence-led operations and enhanced collaboration among relevant agencies.
“Our resolve remains unwavering to secure every part of Nigeria,” Disu said.
The police chief also disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force was increasingly deploying advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, surveillance systems, drones and digital analytics, to combat terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other emerging security threats.
“We now gather data, store it and analyse it. We are carrying out analytics that predict crime trends and what is likely to happen in the near future,” he said.
According to him, the adoption of modern technology is strengthening the Force’s capacity for crime prevention, intelligence gathering and rapid response to incidents across the country.
