Nigeria Police Force Establishes State Policing Implementation Committee Amid National Debate and Constitutional Concerns

Nigeria's IGP Tunji Disu launches a state police committee as regional groups ACF, Afenifere, and PANDEF clash over constitutional amendments and security.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 8:07 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Leadership News

Inauguration of the Special Committee on Subnational Security

In a decisive move following his swearing-in as the 23rd Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu has established a special eight-member panel tasked with drafting a vision for state-level law enforcement. Chaired by Professor Olu Ogunsakin, the committee is mandated to review existing policing models and propose an operational framework that integrates with national security rather than fragmenting it. Disu emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force intends to be a proactive stakeholder in this transition, ensuring that the institutional perspective of the federal force helps shape the eventual implementation of state policing.

Regional Opposition and Constitutional Procedural Warnings

The Arewa Consultative Forum has voiced strong opposition to the Inspector-General’s swift action, characterizing the formation of an implementation committee as premature. According to Professor T. A. Muhammad-Baba, the forum's spokesperson, any move toward state policing is "putting the cart before the horse" because the 1999 Constitution has not yet been amended to permit such structures. The group expressed significant concerns that state governors might hijack localized police forces to target political rivals, arguing that the current federal structure remains the legally recognized authority for internal security.

Advocacy for Decentralization and Localized Crime Fighting

Contrasting the northern perspective, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization Afenifere has lauded the initiative as a necessary step toward addressing the localized nature of crime. National Publicity Secretary Jare Ajayi stated that local expertise is essential for effective security, a sentiment echoed by the Pan Niger Delta Forum. These groups argue that existing regional outfits like Amotekun and the Civilian JTF already function as de facto state police but lack the constitutional legitimacy required to operate at full capacity. They have called on the National Assembly to expedite the legislative process to provide a legal backbone for the IGP's initiative.