Constitution amendment must protect IGP, CPs from abuse — Okiro

Former Inspector-General of Police and one-time Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Sir Mike Okiro, in this interview, speaks on the proposed establishment of state police, funding, training and safeguards against possible abuse by state governors. The amendment to Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution on State Police has received the concurrence of about 30 State Houses of Assembly. But one of the core issues is funding, especially given the paucity of funds. How do you think this can be addressed? When the amendment receives presidential assent, the dual police structure will come into effect. From then on, state governments will have to fund the respective police forces in their states. They have to source the funds. After all, they have been supporting the Nigeria Police Force all these years.

As a Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Benue states, and later as the IGP, I can attest to the operational and funding support given to the police by state governments. A number of them purchase patrol vehicles for most of the state, area commands and divisions in their respective states. Some, like Lagos, have set up State Security Trust Funds for this purpose. So, I have no doubt in my mind that they will do this effectively. Like I said before, Lagos State, which established Operation Sweep 30 years ago, has demonstrated that it is possible. It has the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, a state-of-the-art surveillance system, as well as a world-class Forensic Analysis Centre. For over 30 years, Lagos has been equipping Operation Sweep, which morphed into the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), with modern vehicles and communication equipment. It even has drones and, I think, a helicopter for policing. So, the state is ready. Similarly, Enugu State also has a state-of-the-art…