‎State police calls stem from federal police failure — Okiro

Calls for the establishment of state police in Nigeria stem directly from the inadequacies of the federal police, according to former Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro. He asserts that the Nigeria Police Force is plagued by poor funding, insufficient staffing, and inadequate equipment, creating a situation where state police become a perceived necessity.

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Nigerian police is badly disorganised, disenchanted, demoralised, unstaffed, ill-equipped, ill-trained.

Okiro emphasized that adequate resources are the core issue undermining the federal force's effectiveness. "If the police are well-equipped, nobody would talk about state police," he stated during a television appearance. He believes that if the federal police were successful in their mandate, the debate around decentralizing policing would not be occurring.

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You see, if the police are well-equipped, nobody would talk about state police.

The former IG also pointed to the deteriorating physical state of police infrastructure across the nation. He explained that severe manpower shortages have forced the closure of numerous police stations. "Funding. Poorly staffed. Most police stations are closed down. No manpower," Okiro detailed, illustrating the dire conditions.

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Funding is a major problem.

His comments come as Nigeria grapples with an intensifying national discussion on state police, following the National Assembly's passage of a related bill. The proposal has elicited varied responses, with some, like human rights lawyer Femi Falana, cautioning that state police might not solve insecurity without addressing root causes like unemployment. Others, such as Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, have urged caution, fearing potential misuse against political opponents if implemented before the 2027 general election.

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People talk about state police because federal police have failed. If they succeed, they won’t talk about it.