Former Inspector General of Police Mike Okiro says growing calls for the creation of state police reflect public dissatisfaction with the performance of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
According to a report shared on Channels Television’s official X account on Monday, July 6, 2026, Okiro made the remarks while discussing the renewed debate over state policing following the Senate’s passage of the state police bill.
Okiro argued that inadequate funding and equipment have limited the effectiveness of the federal police, fueling demands for an alternative policing structure.
“If the police had been well equipped, nobody would be talking about state police. People are talking about state police because the federal police have failed. If they had succeeded, nobody would talk about it,” he said.
The former police chief maintained that improving the capacity and effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force is essential to restoring public confidence and addressing the security challenges that have intensified calls for the establishment of state police.
