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By Lawrence Agbo
Former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, has said the growing demand for the establishment of state police is a direct consequence of the perceived failure of Nigeria’s federal policing system.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels TV Politics Today, Okiro argued that the debate over state police would not have gained momentum if the Nigeria Police Force had effectively addressed the country’s security challenges.
According to the former police chief, Nigerians are pushing for state-controlled policing because many believe the current centrally managed system has not delivered the level of security expected across the country.
“If the police had been well equipped, nobody would be talking about state police. People are talking about state police because the federal police have failed. If they had succeeded, nobody would talk about it,” Okiro said.
His remarks come as discussions over the creation of state police continue to dominate national discourse, with supporters arguing that decentralising policing would improve security and enable quicker responses to local threats.
However, the proposal has also generated concerns among some stakeholders, who fear state police could be abused by state governments for political purposes unless backed by strong constitutional safeguards.
Okiro’s comments add to the ongoing debate over the future of policing in Nigeria as policymakers consider reforms aimed at tackling the country’s persistent security challenges.
