Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has opposed the creation of state police in the country.
He said Nigeria had yet to “mature” for state police.
Egbetokun stated this at a national dialogue on state police organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja, on Monday.
The theme of the dialogue is ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria”.
Egbetokun, who was represented by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ben Okolo, said the leadership of the force had resolved that Nigeria had yet to be ripe for that.
He said since the force had taken a stand, Nigeria was not ready for the establishment of state police.
“It is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force that Nigeria is yet to mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police,” he said.
The IGP also proposed that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Corps should be merged to become a department under the police.
He said, “In view of this, the police leadership rather is recommending the following instead of creating state police.
“First, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety to form a department under the Nigerian police.”
The IGP also said the recruitment of police personnel into the force should be increased by at least 30,000 annually to meet the minimum policing standard of the United Nations.