2,000 police stations not enough to protect 200m Nigerians — IGP

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has declared that the current security infrastructure in Nigeria is grossly insufficient to protect the nation’s population of over 200 million people. 

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Speaking at the Infrastructure Dialogue 2026 in Abuja, Disu backed calls for a massive expansion of police facilities, noting that the force currently operates only about 2,000 stations nationwide.

“As of today, we have only about 2,000 police stations nationwide. These deficits directly affect operational effectiveness and must be addressed through sustainable financing models,” he stated.

The IGP highlighted that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission has identified a critical need for 3,000 additional police stations, 1,000 new prisons, and 170 new barracks. He identified several operational setbacks caused by this infrastructure deficit, including dilapidated barracks and outdated systems.

“Our nation continues to confront threats to critical infrastructure—vandalism, sabotage, extortion, and disruptions by organised criminal networks,” Disu noted, adding that the force’s mandate “encompasses the creation of a stable, predictable environment in which legitimate enterprise can flourish.”

Responding to the police hierarchy’s concerns, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule acknowledged the severe gaps but noted that infrastructure challenges extend beyond just funding.

“When we begin to talk about infrastructure, what most people think of are bridges, power, schools and maybe water,” Sule said. “People don’t understand that infrastructure goes beyond that.”

Former Governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna, added that the crisis is compounded by a “credibility gap” regarding contract enforcement. “When we want to win the confidence of investors, our courts and arbitration must be respected. Finally, Nigeria’s infrastructure gap is not a financing gap. It is a credibility gap,” Haruna concluded.