The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has cautioned against state controlled police which he said the country is not yet riped for.
According to him, bedsides the fact that state governors may engage them in oppressing opposition, the centralized police as it is currently, is battling with inadequate training as well as lack of adequate manpower.
Speaking today, April 22, at the National Dialogue on State Policing in Abuja, the IGP said that also most of the police barracks have dilapidated due to lack of maintenance and renovation.
“This has had a negative impact on the performance of the policemen.”
Egbetokun insisted that with the situation on the ground, Nigeria should not be talking about state police, adding that state police would create avenues for state governors to suppress the opposition in their states.
He said that creating state police would also lead to the problem of jurisdiction, which would bring about conflicts of interests.
According to him, state police would not be able to combat terrorism, kidnapping and banditry, because they require enormous resources to combat.
He stressed the need to improve the training of personnel to enable modern policing, adding that funding is necessary to help maintain internal security.
He suggested that instead of state police, the Federal Government should merge the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) with the police for effectiveness.
Egbetokun argued that the NSCDC and the FRSC are a duplication of the police.
The IGP was represented at the event, organised by the House of Representatives, by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ben Okoro.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, said that there is the need for a comprehensive and effective security framework to tackle rising security challenges in the country.
General Musa said that the security and safety of the country is paramount, saying: “it is imperative that we come together to find sustainable solutions.
”It is through collaboration and a shared commitment to the common good that we can develop policies and strategies that will enhance the security infrastructure of our dear nation.”
General Musa said that it is imperative to create a security framework that would be inclusive, responsive, and capable of safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all Nigerians.
