By John Dike, Osogbo
The Federal Government has taken another major concrete step towards the establishment of state police to contain the worrisome insecurity across the country, as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, inaugurated a steering committee on state police.
President Bola Tinubu took the first major constitutional step few days ago when he urged the Senate to review the constitution to accommodate state police for each of the 36 state’s and the Federal Capital Territory..
Disu inaugurated the steering committee for the state police establishment at his inaugural conference with senior police officers at the Peacekeeping Conference Centre, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
In fact, the formal inauguration of the Steering Committee on the Establishment of State Police, formed the major highlight of the conference.
The Steering Committee is mandated to:
- Review policing models within and outside Nigeria;
- Assess community security needs and emerging threats;
- Propose an operational and coordination framework for State Police structures;
- Address recruitment, training, standards, and resource allocation; and
- Develop robust accountability and oversight mechanisms to safeguard professionalism and public trust
The Committee comprises:
- Prof. Olu Ogunsakin – Chairman;
- Director-General, National Institute for Police Studies, Jabi, Abuja;
- CP Bode Ojajuni – Secretary;
- DCP Okebechi Agora – Member;
- DCP Suleyman Gulma – Member;
- ACP Ikechukwu Okafor – Member;
- CSP Tolulope Ipinmisho – Member;
- CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd); and
- Provost, Police Public Relations School – Member.
Acting Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the strategic meeting brought together the senior leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for high-level deliberations on institutional priorities and national security imperatives.
Describing the assignment as both critical and timely, Disu stated that the concept of State Police is being carefully examined in response to evolving security challenges across the country.
He emphasized that the initiative forms part of broader national efforts to strengthen security governance, decentralize policing where appropriate, and promote community-based crime prevention strategies.
The Conference marked the first official engagement between the IGP and the Force’s strategic commanders since his assumption of office.
It aimed at aligning operational directives, reinforcing command responsibility, and setting clear performance benchmarks for the administration.
In his opening address, Disu charged senior officers to demonstrate exemplary leadership, enforce discipline decisively, and uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism.
He announced the strengthening and revitalisation of key internal accountability mechanisms, including the Complaints Response Unit (CRU) and the X-Squad, emphasizing that no officer will be allowed to operate above or outside the law.
The IGP reiterated his commitment to intelligence-led, evidence-based, and technology-driven policing.
He noted that this vision would be supported by enhanced inter-agency coordination, strengthened intelligence architecture, and sustained investment in modern investigative tools and digital capabilities.
