The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun says the country is not “mature” for state policing despite the myriad of security challenges facing it.
He spoke on Monday during a national dialogue on state police held in Abuja with the theme ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria’, which is organised by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
The IGP represented by AIG Ben Okolo argued among other factors, that there is the potential for abuse of power by the state political leadership.
He, however, suggested other things to make the police better in securing the country which include the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Federal Road Safety to form a department under the Nigeria police.
According to the Police chief, there is also a need to ramp up the yearly recruitment of officers.
However, his views were contradicted by other top personalities at the event including former President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio who think there’s no better time than now for Nigeria to establish a State Police structure.