In a significant step after assuming office, the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, has inaugurated a high level steering committee to develop an operational framework for state controlled police forces across the country.

The initiative follows a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who recently urged the National Assembly of Nigeria to accelerate constitutional amendments that would enable the establishment of state police. The President has repeatedly argued that decentralizing policing will improve response time and strengthen security at the community level.

Speaking during the inauguration of the committee in Abuja, Disu explained that the panel has been tasked with producing a practical and workable structure for state policing. According to him, the committee will study effective policing models in other countries, design clear standards for recruitment and training, and recommend oversight mechanisms that will promote transparency and public trust. It will also develop proposals for sustainable funding and outline strategies for cooperation between federal and state law enforcement agencies.

The Inspector General stressed that the creation of state police should be seen as a partnership that will reinforce national security rather than weaken federal authority. He noted that the proposed system will enhance community based policing, improve early detection of threats, and expand the capacity of security institutions to protect citizens.

The committee is chaired by Professor Olu Ogunsakin, Director General of the National Institute for Police Studies, while Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni serves as secretary. Membership includes serving and retired senior police officers, a structure designed to combine academic insight with practical field experience.

Among those who welcomed the development is retired Assistant Inspector General Ali Amodu, who said he had supported the idea of decentralized policing since 1981. He observed that effective policing must reflect the realities of local communities and argued that officers who understand the culture and dynamics of their environment are better positioned to prevent crime.

Former Commissioner of Police Lawrence Alobi also emphasized the importance of clearly defining the relationship between state and federal police authorities. He noted that the committee must establish procedures that will guide cooperation when criminal investigations cross state boundaries.

Disu also disclosed that the police are closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, particularly the tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. He said the Force has strengthened intelligence gathering and patrol operations across the country in order to prevent external conflicts from triggering unrest or retaliatory actions within Nigeria.