Former Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro has attributed the growing calls for the establishment of state police to the operational challenges facing the Nigeria Police Force, saying the force is poorly funded, understaffed, ill-equipped and demoralised. He argued that adequate investment in the federal police would reduce demands for decentralised policing.
Former Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro has expressed concern over the state of policing in Nigeria, describing the Nigeria Police Force as underfunded, understaffed and inadequately equipped to effectively tackle the country’s security challenges.
Okiro made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he weighed in on the ongoing national debate over the proposed establishment of state police.
According to Okiro, the central challenge confronting the police is not merely its structure but years of inadequate funding and neglect.
He said the force lacks sufficient personnel, equipment and operational resources, leaving many police stations understaffed or unable to function effectively.
“The police are badly disorganised, disenchanted, demoralised, understaffed, ill-equipped and ill-trained,” Okiro said, adding that if the Nigeria Police were properly funded and equipped, “nobody would talk about state police.”
Okiro’s comments come as discussions over the creation of state police continue across Nigeria following legislative efforts to decentralise policing.
While he acknowledged that decentralisation could improve security under the right legal safeguards, he maintained that the immediate priority should be strengthening the existing police system through improved funding, recruitment, training and welfare.
He also noted that manpower shortages have forced some police stations to shut down, further weakening internal security operations across the country.
The former police chief urged the Federal Government to prioritise investment in the Nigeria Police Force, stressing that improved logistics, equipment and personnel would significantly enhance operational effectiveness.
He further called for comprehensive security reforms and appropriate legal safeguards should Nigeria eventually adopt a state policing system, warning against potential abuse without proper oversight.
Okiro’s intervention adds to the growing national conversation on policing reforms in Nigeria. As insecurity remains a major concern across the country, debates continue over whether the solution lies in creating state police, strengthening the federal police, or implementing a combination of both approaches to improve public safety.