A committee set up by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has recommended that 60 per cent of Nigeria’s current police personnel be reassigned to state-controlled formations as part of a proposed transition to state policing.
The recommendation is contained in a report presented to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin. The proposal has generated mixed reactions among security experts, with supporters praising its structure while critics question its feasibility.
Nigeria currently has about 370,000 police officers serving a population of over 200 million—far below the United Nations benchmark of one officer to 450 citizens. If implemented, approximately 222,000 officers would move into state police systems.
The framework outlines a dual policing structure: a Federal Police Service handling national security issues such as terrorism and interstate crimes, and separate state police services responsible for local law enforcement. It also proposes a voluntary transfer programme, offering incentives like salary support, training, and pension protection to officers transitioning to state commands.
To ensure accountability, the report recommends the creation of a National Police Standards Board and introduces oversight measures including independent state commissions, judicial review mechanisms, and community policing structures involving local stakeholders.
However, former DSS director Mike Ejiofor criticised aspects of the plan, particularly the mass redeployment of federal officers and restrictions on state police handling major crimes. He argued that states should instead recruit and train their own personnel and be empowered to tackle all categories of crime.
The proposal also includes a funding model backed by a dedicated State Police Fund and outlines a five-year implementation timeline, beginning with constitutional amendments and ending with full operational rollout.