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 Nigeria Police Force’s efforts.
Jimoh made this statement on Thursday at the Police Officers’ Mess in Ikeja during a briefing for reporters.
He clarified that the idea of state police was being investigated as part of larger national initiatives to enhance security governance, increase public involvement in crime prevention, and bring policing closer to communities.
He claims that the effort will improve law enforcement agencies’ ability to respond to new security concerns nationwide.
According to the commissioner, state policing might have a major positive impact by improving local understanding of security dynamics and facilitating speedier responses to crimes if it is properly planned and executed.
“State policing will improve intelligence gathering, foster greater cooperation between citizens and the police, and strengthen the relationship between officers and communities by bringing law enforcement closer to the people,” he stated.
Decentralizing some enforcement duties, according to Jimoh, would make it possible to deploy security resources more effectively, allowing municipal and state governments to handle unique security issues inside their borders.
He added that by giving thousands of young Nigerians job opportunities and bolstering the nation’s overall security capabilities, the proposed state police organization may support economic growth.
However, the commissioner emphasized that state police should be viewed as a complementary organization within 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 constitutional mandate 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, terrorism, organized crime, and human trafficking.
According to Jimoh, “state police formations can offer more localized policing services focused on community safety, conflict prevention, and early response to emerging security issues.”
He reassured Nigerian police officers and personnel that their jobs would not be threatened by the planned reform, pointing out that their function in the nation’s security architecture remained crucial.
Jimoh continued, “The cooperative arrangement between federal and state policing structures would ultimately strengthen crime prevention efforts and deliver more effective security outcomes for citizens.” (NAN)
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