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Details Of IGP’s Committee Report On State Police Emerge.
A committee set up by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to design a framework for state police has recommended redeploying 60% of existing Nigerian Police officers to state-level formations if the proposal is implemented.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The recommendation was presented to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, on Thursday. The proposal has sparked mixed reactions from security experts, with some supporting parts of it and others questioning its feasibility.
Currently, Nigeria has roughly 370,000 police officers for a population exceeding 200 million, giving a ratio of one officer per 600 people—below the United Nations’ recommended ratio of one officer per 450 citizens. If adopted, about 222,000 officers would move to state police services across the country.
The seven-member committee proposed a two-tier system:
- Federal Police Service (FPS): Replacing the current Nigeria Police Force to focus on national security, terrorism, interstate crimes, and federal law enforcement.
- State Police Services (SPS): One for each of the 36 states plus the FCT, handling local crimes such as armed robbery, homicide, domestic violence, and community policing.
The report also proposed a Voluntary Transfer Programme (VTP), allowing federal officers to move to their home states or preferred state police, with benefits including a three-month salary grant, transition training, and guaranteed pension continuity.
Additionally, the committee recommended creating a National Police Standards Board (NPSB), a 13-member independent federal body to set minimum standards for recruitment, training, professional conduct, accountability, funding, and performance monitoring for all police services.
Community policing is highlighted as a key pillar, with each State Police Service establishing a Department of Community Policing and Community Policing Forums at every Local Government Area, including police officers, traditional rulers, youth and women’s groups, and religious leaders. Community Liaison Officers would engage directly with residents in local languages.
To prevent misuse of state police by governors, the framework proposed constitutional restrictions against partisan deployment, independent State Police Service Commissions, criminal penalties for political interference, and fast-track judicial review by the Federal High Court. Additional oversight measures include state police ombudsmen, legislative committees, mandatory body-worn cameras, and public performance dashboards.
The report also outlined a funding structure via a State Police Fund (SPF), sourced from:
- 3% statutory allocation from the Federation Account, distributed based on population, land area, security needs, and fiscal capacity.
- At least 15% contribution from each state’s security budget.
The plan recommends a 60-month phased implementation:
- Months 1–12: Constitutional and legal amendments
- Months 13–24: Establishment of state police and transfer programme launch
- Months 25–42: Initial operations and withdrawal of federal police from local policing
- Months 43–60: Full consolidation, evaluation, and legislative review
Criticism: Former DSS Director and security consultant Mike Ejiofor opposed the 60% officer transfer, arguing that state police should recruit and train their own personnel and operate independently of the federal police. He also criticized restricting state police from tackling terrorism and banditry, suggesting they should handle all crimes while handing suspects to federal authorities for prosecution. Ejiofor further questioned the National Police Standards Board, warning it could undermine state police autonomy in a federal system.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has urged voters across the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Uzodinma warned that ongoing development projects in the region could be discontinued if Tinubu fails to secure a second term in office.
He made the appeal on Monday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally held in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
The governor encouraged residents of the South-East to participate actively in the forthcoming election by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and voting for Tinubu.
He stressed that their participation would play a significant role in determining the country’s political direction.
Uzodinma also referenced an address delivered by Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, during the rally, in which he presented a charter of needs outlining the expectations of the South-East and Nigerians generally.
According to the Imo governor, the demands and expectations highlighted by Nwifuru should guide the people’s decisions as they prepare for the 2027 presidential election.
He said, “I saw the governor of Ebonyi State in his address. He read what is called the Charter of Needs for the people, for South-East people, and indeed for Nigeria.
“Our responsibility will start from now to go and look for our PVC. That is the weapon, because if President Tinubu is not re-elected, all these ongoing projects will stop. So we have to sharpen our weapon, and our weapon is our voter card.”
The Super Eagles of Nigeria and Tanzania have encountered disruptions in their preparations for Friday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Uyo following reported changes to their flight schedules.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle arrived in Uyo in the early hours of Monday and was later joined by one of his assistants, Daniel Ogunmodede. However, the team was yet to commence full training as the invited players had not arrived at the camp.
Sources in Uyo told Punch that no Super Eagles player had arrived at the Victor Attah International Airport as of Monday evening, despite team officials waiting at the airport throughout the day.
One of the sources said: “We were at the airport from morning until evening on Monday, and none of the players arrived. When the last flight of the day landed, we checked the manifest, but no player was on board.”
Tanzania also experienced a delay in its travel arrangements. The Taifa Stars, who were initially expected to arrive in Uyo on Monday, were rescheduled to land on Tuesday following changes to their flight schedule.
The East African side have endured a difficult start to their Group L campaign, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau before settling for a 1-1 draw against Madagascar.
However, Tanzania have already secured automatic qualification for the 2027 AFCON as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Uganda. This leaves only one available qualification spot in Group L.
Guinea-Bissau currently top the group, while Nigeria sit in second position with three points from two matches.
The Super Eagles began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Madagascar in Uyo but suffered a disappointing 3-0 loss to Guinea-Bissau in Bissau.
Chelle will be hoping to assemble his squad as quickly as possible ahead of the double-header, with Nigeria needing maximum points to improve their chances of securing the group’s remaining qualification ticket.
The coach announced a 24-man squad on Saturday but will be without striker Victor Osimhen, who has been ruled out of the encounter due to injury. The Galatasaray forward also missed Nigeria’s previous two qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in September.
Other players invited include goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Arthur Okonkwo; defenders Olaoluwa Aina and Benjamin Frederick; midfielders Tochukwu Nnadi and Samson Tijani; and forwards Moses Usor and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Turkey-based defender Chibuike Nwaiwu and Czechia-based wing-back Abdullahi Bewene are also part of the squad.
The campaign spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Kenneth Okonkwo, has expressed confidence that his principal will appear on the ballot in the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okonkwo accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of making efforts to prevent Atiku from contesting the election, insisting that the party’s alleged attempts would ultimately fail.
He drew a comparison with the 2007 presidential election, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly made efforts to stop Atiku, who was then his vice president, from contesting the presidency.
Naija News reports that the actor-turned-politician maintained that the APC would suffer the same outcome as Obasanjo, who failed to prevent Atiku from participating in the 2007 election.
Okonkwo also predicted that Atiku would emerge as Nigeria’s next president.
In a post shared on X, he said the APC’s alleged attempts to frustrate Atiku’s ambition had strengthened his belief in the ADC candidate’s chances.
He wrote:
“The more the incompetent and corrupt APC tackles ADC, and the more they try to block Atiku Abubakar from contesting for the post of President in 2027, the more I am convinced that Atiku Abubakar is the next President of Nigeria because you do not cast a stone at a tree that is not bearing any fruit.
“APC should learn from history, and understand that Atiku is unstoppable. President Olusegun Obasanjo did everything possible, with all the powers of the security apparatus, to stop Atiku, his Vice President, from contesting the 2007 presidential election, but failed.
“Atiku succeeded through the rule of law by ventilating his agitation through the courts. This time around in 2027, Atiku will win again because God and the people of Nigeria are on his side.
“Let me reiterate, Atiku and ADC will be on the ballot in 2027 and will win the 2027 presidential election for the security and welfare of Nigerians.
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