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A former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, has called for a constitutionally defined multi-level policing system and the establishment of research centres within Nigeria’s security institutions.
Egbetokun made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 20th International Conference and General Assembly of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) in Ibadan.
Speaking at Lead City University on the theme, “Security Governance and Global Dynamics,” the former police chief proposed a policing structure comprising federal, state and community levels, with clearly defined roles, rules of engagement, funding arrangements and accountability mechanisms.
He said lasting progress in the nation’s security sector would require fundamental reforms of its structures and systems, rather than merely equipping security agencies with more weapons and equipment.
Reflecting on his years as head of the Nigeria Police Force, Egbetokun commended the dedication and commitment of police officers, but cautioned that the devolution of policing powers to states and communities must be carefully managed.
According to him, there must be clear delineation of responsibilities among the different levels of policing to avoid conflict and duplication of duties.
“We must support the government to achieve this,” he said.
Egbetokun also advocated the establishment of research centres in police colleges, military institutions and other security agencies to promote after-action reviews, data analytics and evidence-based policing.
He observed that while security agencies possess vast operational experience, much of the knowledge generated from their activities was not adequately documented for research and future planning.
Peace as pillar of security
The former IGP, who is a Fellow of the SPSP and described his participation in the conference as a homecoming, said peace remained one of the fundamental pillars of security.
“Where peace cannot be sustained, security itself cannot endure,” he said, drawing from his more than three decades of experience in command, operations, policy and leadership.
Egbetokun said security should not be regarded as the sole responsibility of government, stressing that citizens and communities also have critical roles to play.
“Security is not what is provided alone by government; it must be produced by society,” he said.
He identified government, the private sector, academia, communities and citizens as key stakeholders in building a secure society, adding that public trust should be regarded as critical security infrastructure.
Global threats, local effects
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Egbetokun said no country could effectively isolate itself from global security threats, noting that terrorism, banditry, cybercrime, arms and drug trafficking, as well as illicit financial flows, operate across national borders.
He described such threats as “global networks with local franchises in Nigeria,” adding that local insecurity had become part of a wider international “supply chain.”
He therefore called for a shift from a purely national approach to a networked security system, stressing that while the state remained indispensable, no single institution could effectively tackle contemporary security challenges alone.
The former IGP also urged governments and security agencies to keep pace with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, while ensuring that technological innovation was accompanied by appropriate accountability mechanisms.
He advocated a national framework for information integrity to tackle disinformation, hate speech and extremist propaganda without undermining freedom of expression.
He also called for stronger regional and international partnerships to combat transnational organised crime.
People must remain at centre of security
Egbetokun said security policies must be anchored on human dignity and the everyday needs of citizens, including food, employment, healthcare and the safety of schools.
“A secure state with insecure citizens is not truly secure,” he said.
He argued that poverty and unemployment must be addressed as part of the country’s security strategy, stressing that reducing economic vulnerability would help deny extremist groups a pool of potential recruits.
“There is no military solution to a governance problem,” he said.
He proposed a security governance model centred on prevention and resilience, institutional continuity, evidence-based decision-making, inter-agency coordination, responsible use of technology and public legitimacy.
Egbetokun commended the SPSP for bringing scholarship and security practice together and urged participants to ensure that research and practical experience continued to inform one another.
He said: “Evidence should inform policy, while experience should inform research.”
The five-day conference, which began on October 5 and ends on October 9, has attracted scholars, security chiefs, policymakers, diplomats and peacebuilders from Nigeria and beyond.
