Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, on Wednesday inaugurated an eight-member committee to drive the implementation of state police, in what appears to be a major step that the President Bola Tinubu’s administration is pushing ahead with decentralising the country’s security architecture.
The committee, chaired by Prof Olu Ogunsakin, is expected to oversee the framework for the controversial state policing model and coordinate the rollout of Disu’s broader policing vision following his confirmation as the 23rd indigenous IGP.
The inauguration came during Disu’s first formal engagement with senior police officers since his confirmation, days after the Nigeria Police Council unanimously ratified his appointment, clearing the way for his swearing-in by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Addressing the top hierarchy of the Force, Disu declared that leadership “is not about position but responsibility,” insisting that professionalism, discipline and accountability must define policing across commands nationwide.
He warned that authority must be exercised with restraint, stressing that respect for human rights remains non-negotiable.
“Every Nigerian must be treated with dignity, fairness, and justice, regardless of status or background,” he told senior officers.
The IGP also announced plans to strengthen internal accountability mechanisms, directing that the Public Complaint Unit and the X-Squad be empowered to operate independently, a move seen as an attempt to curb internal abuses and restore public confidence.
On decentralisation, Disu said allowing different tiers of government to play active roles in security management would enhance intelligence gathering and responsiveness to local threats.
The inauguration of the state police implementation committee comes at a critical time for the Nigeria Police Force.
On February 24, 2026, President Tinubu appointed Disu as Acting IGP following the removal of his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun.
His appointment was later unanimously endorsed by the Nigeria Police Council.
His elevation comes amid worsening security challenges across Nigeria, including rising cases of kidnappings, banditry in the North-West, insurgency in the North-East, and violent attacks on rural communities.
The move also aligns with President Tinubu’s recent call for constitutional amendments to formally establish state police.
Last week, SaharaReporters reported that the President urged members of the Nigerian Senate to begin the process of amending the Constitution to incorporate state police, arguing that decentralising policing is crucial to reclaim forests from armed groups and combat terrorism.
“What I will ask for tonight is for you to start thinking how best to amend the Constitution to incorporate the state police for us to secure,” Tinubu had told lawmakers during a meeting at the State House in Abuja.
“To secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, free our children from fear.”
He added that criticism of political leaders was inevitable but insisted unity was required to tackle insecurity.
“But I can’t blame anybody for jumping out of a sinking ship if they did,” Tinubu said, referencing political defections and shifting alliances.
Calls for state police have intensified in recent years, even before Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign, amid persistent security crises and concerns over the effectiveness of Nigeria’s centrally controlled policing structure.
