The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has clarified that state police would not replace the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The IGP said state police would serve as a complementary structure within a coordinated national security framework.
Disu made this known during the inauguration of a seven-member committee for the implementation of state police in Abuja on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
He said the establishment of state police will create employment opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians, thereby contributing to national development while strengthening the country’s security capacity.
The IGP stated: “However, it is important to emphasise that state policing should not be misunderstood as a replacement for, or a diminution of, the Nigeria Police Force.
“Rather, it should be seen as a complementary structure within a coordinated national security framework.
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“The Nigeria Police Force will continue to play its constitutional role as the primary national law enforcement institution responsible for maintaining internal security across the federation.
“Indeed, the introduction of state police is expected to enhance the overall efficiency of policing by allowing the federal police to concentrate more strategically on complex and transnational crimes such as terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, trafficking networks, and other serious security threats that require national coordination and specialised capabilities.”
Disu assured officers of the Nigeria Police Force that the proposed reform would be built on synergy and partnership, rather than competition or duplication of roles.
The IGP urged members of the committee to approach their assignment with professionalism, objectivity and patriotism, noting that their recommendations would play a key role in shaping the future of policing in Nigeria.
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