The planned creation of state police, according to Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, will enhance national security operations and support the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force.
Jimoh made this statement on Thursday while giving reporters a briefing at the Police Officers’ Mess in Ikeja.
He clarified that the idea of state police was being investigated as part of larger national initiatives to promote public involvement in crime prevention, better security governance, and bring policing closer to communities.
He claims that the effort will improve law enforcement agencies’ ability to respond more successfully to new security threats across the nation.
According to the commissioner, state policing may greatly enhance local understanding of security dynamics and facilitate speedier responses to crimes provided it is properly planned and executed.
“State policing will improve intelligence gathering, strengthen the relationship between officers and communities, and encourage greater cooperation between citizens and the police by bringing law enforcement closer to the people,” he stated.
Decentralizing some enforcement duties, according to Jimoh, would enable more effective use of security resources, allowing municipal and state governments to handle unique security issues within their borders.
Additionally, he pointed out that the planned state police organization might boost the nation’s overall security capabilities while fostering economic growth by giving thousands of young Nigerians job opportunities.
However, the commissioner emphasized that state police should be viewed as an additional structure inside a coordinated national security framework rather than as a substitute for the Nigeria Police Force.
He claims that the federal police will carry out their constitutionally mandated function as the major national law enforcement agency in charge of upholding internal security.
The police chief clarified that the establishment of state police will enable the federal police to focus more on intricate and international crimes including cybercrime, human trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime.
According to Jimoh, “state police formations can provide more localized policing services focused on community safety, conflict prevention, and early response to emerging security issues.”
He reassured Nigerian police officers and men that the planned reform would not jeopardize their employment, pointing out that their vital role in the nation’s security framework would not change.
According to Jimoh, the cooperative arrangement between federal and state law enforcement agencies would eventually improve efforts to prevent crime and provide citizens with better security results. In NAN
