Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (Rtd.), has urged Nigerian authorities to address the longstanding structural challenges affecting the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) before fully implementing state police, warning that unresolved deficiencies could simply be transferred to the new policing system.
Speaking during the ARISE News Town Hall on State Police, Irabor stressed that the debate over state policing should focus primarily on improving command and control rather than merely increasing police presence at the grassroots.
State Police Is About Command, Not Proximity
Irabor said many Nigerians misunderstand the concept of state police by assuming it is solely about bringing policing closer to local communities.
According to him, police stations already exist in local government areas and many rural communities across Nigeria, making physical presence less of an issue than operational authority.
He explained that the real objective of state police is to decentralize command structures so that security decisions can be made faster and more effectively at the state level.
“The issue is not whether police officers are present in communities. The real question is who has the authority to command them and respond quickly to emerging security threats,” he said.
Local Representation Already Exists
The retired military chief dismissed suggestions that state police would significantly improve local representation in law enforcement through recruitment.
He noted that every local government area already has personnel serving within the Nigeria Police Force and the Armed Forces.
According to Irabor, the proposed reform should instead prioritize devolving operational authority to improve efficiency and responsiveness rather than focusing solely on recruiting officers from local communities.
Federal and State Police Can Coexist
Irabor expressed confidence that establishing state police would not create unnecessary duplication of responsibilities between federal and state security agencies.
He argued that multiple policing layers could strengthen national security if roles are clearly defined and properly coordinated.
“The more, the merrier,” he remarked, while emphasizing that an effective framework must be developed to ensure seamless collaboration between both policing systems.
Understand Why Federal Policing Has Struggled
The former Chief of Defence Staff cautioned lawmakers against rushing into the implementation of state police without first examining the reasons behind the shortcomings of the current federal policing structure.
He argued that Nigeria has not adequately investigated why the Nigeria Police Force continues to face operational challenges despite numerous reforms.
According to him, identifying and correcting these weaknesses is essential to preventing similar problems from affecting state police.
State Police Likely to Become Reality
Irabor said he believes the establishment of state police is now only a matter of time, expressing confidence that State Houses of Assembly would approve the constitutional amendments passed by the National Assembly.
However, he warned that unless the systemic problems affecting federal policing are resolved, state police could inherit the same operational failures.
He likened the situation to preventing an infection from spreading, saying the “disease” affecting the federal police must be treated at its source before a new policing structure is introduced.
Training, Logistics and Equipment Must Be Standardised
The retired general identified inadequate logistics, insufficient equipment, poor training and structural deficiencies as some of the major issues that require urgent attention before state police become operational.
He called for the establishment of nationally coordinated training institutions where recruits from all states would undergo the same professional training before returning to serve in their respective states.
According to him, standardised training, operational guidelines and equipment specifications are necessary to ensure consistency, professionalism and discipline across state police formations nationwide.
Without uniform standards, he warned, each state could develop different policing methods, creating inconsistencies that may undermine national security.
Recruitment Must Be Transparent
Irabor also emphasized the need for a balanced recruitment process that ensures adequate representation from every local government area while preventing criminal elements from infiltrating state police.
He said policymakers must establish clear recruitment procedures, rigorous background checks and professional standards to maintain public confidence in the new policing system.
Careful Planning Is Essential
While describing state police as a reform that should have been implemented years ago, Irabor stressed that careful planning remains crucial to its long-term success.
He urged the government to build a professional, well-equipped and effective policing institution capable of earning public trust and delivering quality law enforcement services.
According to the former defence chief, addressing structural weaknesses in the existing federal police while laying a solid foundation for state policing would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s overall security architecture and improve the country’s response to emerging security threats.
