IGP Committee Proposes 60% Transfer to State Police

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) committee has recommended the transfer of 60% of police personnel to state police services in Nigeria. The proposal, which comes amid concerns about the current police-to-citizen ratio of 1:600, suggests that approximately 222,000 police officers will transition to state police.

The committee, chaired by Barau Jibrin and including Professor Olu Ogunsakin, submitted a 75-page report titled "Comprehensive Framework to Establish and Govern Coordinated Federal and State Police." This framework proposes the creation of a Federal Police Service (FP) and 37 State Police Services (SP) to handle local crimes, domestic violence, and community policing. The report emphasizes a voluntary transfer program for federal officers to their home states and recommends the establishment of a National Police Standard Board (NPSB) to set minimum standards for recruitment, training, and conduct across police services.

Additionally, the report addresses concerns about state police weaponization and proposes constitutional amendments to ensure independence from political interference.