General Lucky Irabor, the former Chief of Defence Staff, stated on Thursday that Nigeria must shift its focus from debating the necessity of state police to ensuring the model functions effectively. He emphasized that the country’s objective should be creating a professional, reliable security framework that avoids the pitfalls currently plaguing the federal system.
Addressing the ARISE News Town Hall in Abuja, Irabor noted that the core issue is not simply about whether local law enforcement should be established, but about the specific structure of command and control. Responding to fears that state forces might turn into private militias—an concern previously voiced by Nnenna Ukeje—the retired general argued that decentralization is primarily about optimizing operational authority for quicker and more effective responses to local security threats.
Irabor stressed that police personnel are already drawn from local government areas across the nation, meaning the challenge lies in management rather than recruitment origins. He warned that simply decentralizing will not solve Nigeria’s security issues if fundamental weaknesses in logistics, training, and operational procedures are ignored. He advocated for a thorough assessment of the current federal police to inform the creation of new standards.
To prevent inconsistency, the former military head called for robust institutional safeguards, including uniform training curricula, standardized equipment, and consistent operational guidelines nationwide. He also highlighted the necessity of transparent recruitment processes to prevent criminal elements from infiltrating the ranks. Ultimately, Irabor remarked that the effectiveness of any policing system will be judged by the level of public trust it secures, rather than just the visible presence of officers on the street.
