Nigeria Not Mature For State Police, IG Says

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has said Nigeria is not yet ripe for the use of state police in the country.

Speaking at a meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum on Thursday, Mr Idris said the government should rather increase funding for the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the IG, the current federal police arrangement is the best for the country.

He urged the governors to push for the passage of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund bill before the National Assembly, adding that it would help the Force to have enough resources to adequately police the nation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a public hearing on the Nigeria Police Trust Fund was organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs on July 1.

The bill seeks to provide alternative funding for the police.

Mr. Idris noted that the Nigeria Police were one of the “least paid” security organisations in the world in spite of operating under the UN ratio of 1:400.

He added that with the current ratio of 1: 602 the Nigeria Police was operating far below the United Nation’s ratio.

“I sincerely believe that the Federal Police is still the best for the country and with improved funding the challenges of crime will be addressed,” he said, according to a statement by police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood.

“Those agitating for state police should consider the level of our political maturity.

“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to your Excellencies to prevail on your representatives at the National Assembly to ensure the passage of the bill.

“It is my sincere believe that once the Police Trust Fund Bill is passed into law, the necessary finances required to effectively police the nation will be available.

“About 10,000 police officers have been recruited recently to fill the gap but this is still a far cry.

“To meet up with the UN ratio of 1:400, the Nigeria police requires additional 155,000 Police Officers for the next five years.”

He said a request to recruit 31,000 policemen had been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval.

Mr. Idris explained that the Police is putting structures in place to bridge the communication gap between the Police and members of the public.

He said one of such structures included the establishment of the Nigeria Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS).

“When commissioned, it will broadcast Nationwide on TV, Radio, online and the National Emergency Communication Command Control Centre (NEC4).

Speaking also, Chairman of the Governor’s Forum, Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara, assured the Police IG, of the governor’s support.