Olohundare Jimoh, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, on Thursday highlighted that the concept of state police is under consideration as part of national efforts to improve security governance, community engagement, and public participation in crime prevention.

Briefing journalists at the Police Officers’ Mess in Ikeja, Jimoh said the initiative is aimed at strengthening law enforcement capacity to respond more effectively to evolving security threats across the country.

“By bringing law enforcement closer to the people, state policing will strengthen the relationship between officers and communities, improve intelligence gathering, and encourage greater cooperation between citizens and the police,” he stated.

He noted that decentralizing certain policing responsibilities would allow state governments and local authorities to address security challenges unique to their areas, while the federal police focus on complex and transnational crimes such as terrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, and human trafficking.

Jimoh also emphasized that a properly structured state police could contribute to economic development by creating employment opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians while enhancing national security.

However, he clarified that state police is not intended to replace the Nigeria Police Force but to complement it within a coordinated national security framework. The federal police will remain the primary law enforcement body responsible for maintaining internal security nationwide.

“State police formations can provide more localized policing services focused on community safety, conflict prevention, and early response to emerging security issues,” Jimoh added.

The commissioner reassured officers that the proposed reforms would not threaten their positions, stressing that collaboration between federal and state policing structures will strengthen crime prevention and deliver more effective security outcomes for Nigerians.