Ahiakwo: IGP Must Be Politically Insulated for State Police

Lawyer Osai Ahiakwo has stated that for state police to operate effectively in Nigeria, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) must be insulated from political pressures. Following the resignation of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the appointment of Tunji Disu as acting IGP, Ahiakwo warned that merely changing leadership does not address the deep-rooted structural weaknesses within the police system.

He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize the confirmation of a substantive IGP who operates independently and within the confines of the law. Ahiakwo highlighted the need for an oversight body and cautioned against treating state police as a political concession.

He stressed that the existing police framework should be strengthened rather than dismantled, advocating for proper funding and clear definitions of authority. Ahiakwo compared Nigeria's situation to countries like the United States, Germany, and Japan, asserting that structural reforms alone are insufficient without discipline and respect for the rule of law.