IGPmust be shielded from politics before state police can work – Lawyer
Constitutional lawyer Justice Osai Ahiakwo warns that Nigeria's push for state police will fail without insulating the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) from political pressure. His comments follow President Tinubu's appointment of Acting IGP Tunji Disu after the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun. Ahiakwo argues that leadership changes alone won't fix deep institutional weaknesses in the police. He urges the President to prioritize discipline, merit and operational independence when confirming a substantive IGP. The lawyer stresses the IGP must function within legal confines and avoid political interference, accountable to oversight bodies like the Police Service Commission. Without this balance, neither federal nor state policing can guarantee sustainable security. Ahiakwo contends Nigeria's security crisis is institutional, not structural, and cautions against treating state police as a political concession. He advocates strengthening existing frameworks like the 2020 Police Act through professionalism and funding rather than dismantling the current system.