Former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, has endorsed the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria, arguing that decentralising the force would significantly improve security, but warned that the proposed five-year implementation timeline is too long.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Okiro said deploying up to 60 per cent of police personnel to the states is both practical and necessary, given Nigeria’s vast geographical, cultural, and linguistic diversity.
He said, “That is proper because Nigeria is so wide—geographically, ethnically, and linguistically. This is what should have been the case all along.”
Okiro attributed longstanding inefficiencies in policing to inadequate federal funding and overstretch, noting that decentralisation would allow state governments to better equip and manage officers.
According to him, “The federal government has not been able to equip the police properly, maybe because of budget constraints and competing priorities. If decentralisation comes in and states take responsibility for part of the police, it will be better.”
He added that state-controlled policing would encourage healthy competition among governors and improve operational effectiveness.
“There will be competition among the states—each trying to do better in terms of policing. Governors are already doing well in other areas, and this will reflect in policing too,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of local knowledge, Okiro argued that officers deployed within their cultural and linguistic environments would perform better.
On institutional reforms, he questioned the necessity of creating a new National Police Standards Committee when the Police Service Commission already has defined oversight responsibilities.
“The Police Service Commission already has clear functions, including appointments, promotions, and discipline. We must ensure roles are not duplicated but properly aligned,” he added.
Okiro concluded that decentralised policing, backed by proper funding, legal clarity, and coordination, remains a viable path to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
“State police will improve efficiency, accountability, and response to local security issues—if properly implemented,” he said.
About The Author
