The inspector General of Police (IGP) Olukayode Egbetokun has said Nigerian is not ripe for the establishment of state police.
The IGP however called for increase in the annual recruitment of the Nigerian police from 10,000 officers to 30,000 to meet the United Nations standards of one police officer to 450 citizens.
He also proposed the incorporation of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Safety Corps (FRSC) into the Nigerian Police Force. This position, however, elicited reactions from the audience who expressed surprise at the position of the police chief.
IGP Egbetokun made the disclosure in Abuja on Monday at th ongoing national dialogue on state police.
The IGP who was represented at the event by AIG Ben Okolo during his goodwill message at the event stated that the Nigeria police is opposed to the formation of state police because “Nigeria was not ripe for it.”
According to the IGP noted that the Nigeria Police Force is being held back by lack of adequate funding and equipment. IGP Egbedokun said that the police lacked basic kits, guns and modern policing equipment in addition to lack of adequate up-t-date training to tackle emerging security challenges in line with modern policing protocols.
