State police will bring security closer to Nigerians, says IGP

New York: Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu says State Police will deepen community policing and improve intelligence gathering.

Disu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York on Friday that the initiative would boost community-based policing and improve intelligence gathering.

He, however, said implementation would involve extensive consultations, comparative studies and capacity building before full operationalisation.

“We are still at the teething stage. We need experience, education and comparative studies from jurisdictions already practising State Police.”

He expressed confidence that State Police would strengthen collaboration between federal and state security institutions.

“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.”

The police chief said closer community engagement would improve intelligence gathering, public trust and rapid response to security threats.

He reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to innovation, professionalism and strategic partnerships to sustain peace, stability and national development.

The state Police bill seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution.

This will empower state governments to establish, fund, and operate their own police forces alongside the Nigeria Police Force, which is centrally controlled by the Federal Government.

Disu, who participated at the UN Chiefs of Police Summit at the UN headquarters, said Nigeria’s sacrifices strengthen global peace.

According to him, Nigeria’s UN peacekeeping record remains a global pride, and the country has never failed in UN peacekeeping missions.

The IGP said Nigeria remained one of the United Nations’ most dependable peacekeeping contributors.

He praised Nigerian security personnel serving worldwide, saying the country had contributed troops, police officers and enormous sacrifices.

The police chief reaffirmed Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to United Nations peacekeeping operations across the world.

He recalled that Nigeria began participating in UN peacekeeping in Congo in 1960 and had remained a dependable contributor ever since.

“There is virtually no UN mission where you will not find Nigerian personnel serving with distinction.”

Disu said Nigeria had also paid enormous sacrifices in global peacekeeping through the loss of many police personnel.

“The United Nations will never joke with Nigeria’s contributions because of our commitment and sacrifices,” he said. (NAN)