The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has opposed idea of establishing state police accross the country, saying Nigeria is not ripe for it.
Speaking at a one day dialogue on state policing currently going in Abuja, Egbetokun said the establishment of state police will execerbate ethnic tension, leading to divided loyalty in the states.
Represented by AIG Ben Okolo, the Inspector General of Police said the establishment of state police will also lead to multiple command structures in the states.
He also said that state governors are likely to abuse the privilege of state police by using it for political gains, leading to possible abuse of power and abuse of huma rights.
He argued that the state government lack thereof required funding that will give birth to the type of policing that the nation requires.
Rather than estabalisibg state police, he recommend the merging of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Commission to form a department in the Nigeria Police Force.
He also said there is the need for a yearly recruitment of about 30,000 police personnel into the force annually to meet the UN requirements for modern policing, while also increasing annual budgetary allocation to the force.
Vice President Kashim Shettima; Former President, Goodluck Jonathan; former military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) and retired Catholic Archbishop, John Onaiyekan are some of the eminent personalities currently gathered in Abuja for a national dialogue on state policing, on Monday.
Some of the eminent personalities currently gathered in Abuja for the national dialogue include Vice President Kashim Shettima; Former President, Goodluck Jonathan; former military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.) and retired Catholic Archbishop, John Onaiyekan and many others.
