The Steering Committee on the Establishment of State Police has proposed a four-phase transition roadmap for the creation of state policing structures, outlining a comprehensive reform plan estimated to cost up to N813 billion over five years.

The recommendation is contained in a report by the committee, constituted by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and obtained by The Atlantic Bell on Friday.

Chaired by Olu Ogunsakin, the eight-member committee was inaugurated on March 4 and tasked with developing an operational framework for state policing within one month.

The panel is also mandated to guide the implementation of state-level policing to complement the federal system and address rising security challenges, including frameworks for recruitment, training and funding.

According to the report, the proposed transition will span 60 months and be executed in four phases.

Phase one (months one to 12) will focus on legal and constitutional procedures, including amendments to Sections 213 and 215 of the 1999 Constitution, enactment of a State Police Act by the National Assembly, and passage of enabling laws by all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The phase will also involve the establishment of State Police Service Commissions and ombudsman offices across the states.
Phase two (months 13 to 24) will cover personnel transfer, with the introduction of Voluntary Transfer Programmes (VTP) to allow officers of the federal police to move to state commands.

In phase three (months 25 to 42), state police operations will commence fully, with responsibility for local policing shifting to state authorities, while the federal force refocuses on national duties.

Phase four (months 43 to 60) will consolidate the reform, including full reorganisation of the Federal Police Service.

The committee emphasised that constitutional and legal frameworks must precede implementation, warning that institutional structures must be built from the ground up in all states.

It recommended the establishment of fully functional state police services, including service commissions, ombudsman offices, community policing forums at the local government level, as well as ICT systems, custody facilities and forensic capabilities.

The report also called for the creation of a National Police Standard Board to oversee compliance and operations across six zonal offices.

It projected an establishment cost ranging from N589 billion to N813 billion, noting that the financial burden necessitates phased implementation.

On manpower, the committee said each state police service would recruit and train a new cadre of officers alongside personnel transferred from the federal force.

It added that the first batch of recruits would be enrolled in phase two, with deployment commencing in phase three, while a mandatory 40-hour Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme would be instituted for all officers.
The report further highlighted the need for a National Police Intelligence Portal, a national criminal records system, and an upgraded Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), alongside full ICT integration across all state and federal police formations.

It estimated that national ICT infrastructure alone would cost between N65 billion and N95 billion, with full integration expected by the final phase.

The committee stressed the importance of safeguarding officers’ rights, noting that no personnel should be involuntarily dismissed and that pension and welfare entitlements must be protected.

It concluded that the 60-month transition period represents the minimum timeframe required to restructure the country’s policing architecture, citing the need to redeploy over 273,000 officers, establish 37 police services, enact legal frameworks, and build critical infrastructure without disrupting public security.

All arrangements have been concluded for the formal unveiling of the Albert Badey Centre for Development (ABCD), scheduled for Saturday, April 25, at the E.U.I. Event Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Dignitaries, associates and admirers of the late Ogoni leader have begun arriving in the city ahead of the ceremony, which will also feature a posthumous 90th birthday commemoration in his honour.

A statement issued by Blessing Wikina
Head, Media Sub-Committee for ABCD Unveiling stated that the centre, conceived as a legacy project, will house an Institute for Peace and Policy named after Sir Gabriel Toby, former Deputy Governor of Rivers State. Both men served the state in earlier years as Permanent Secretaries.

The statement also indicated that a former Commissioner in the old Rivers State, Dr Emmanuel Denenu, is billed to deliver the keynote address at the event.

The ABCD is established in recognition of Badey’s contributions to the development of Ogoniland, where he played a pivotal role in the creation of four local government areas from the former Ogoni Division. He is also credited with facilitating the siting of the state’s first polytechnic in the area.

The unveiling is expected to draw stakeholders from across Rivers State and beyond, in celebration of a life widely regarded as instrumental to the advancement of the Ogoni people.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has thrown his weight behind the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing the need for continuity to consolidate ongoing reforms and development strides.

Fubara made the declaration on Thursday in Port Harcourt while hosting members of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council, drawn from the 17 southern states, at a meeting focused on unity, security, and economic growth.

The governor acknowledged prevailing economic and social challenges but maintained that the current administration has made measurable progress in stabilising the economy and advancing infrastructure, pointing to flagship initiatives such as the coastal road project.

“It is not ideal to change the goalposts in the middle of the game,” Fubara said, stressing that policy consistency and leadership continuity are critical to sustaining reforms.

He called on stakeholders across the southern region to close ranks in pursuit of shared development objectives, emphasising that unity remains indispensable for long-term progress.

Fubara also highlighted the significance of the high-level gathering, noting that the presence of traditional rulers underscored the relative peace in Rivers State and its capacity to host national engagements.

Earlier, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who chairs the council, said the forum was convened to deepen unity and promote peaceful coexistence across the region. He described the council as a reflection of Nigeria’s rich diversity, with over 400 dialects spoken in the southern states.

According to Ogunwusi, the Port Harcourt meeting marks the fourth in the series, following previous sessions in Imo, Ogun, and Lagos states, and serves as a platform for traditional rulers to deliberate on shared values and collective interests.

He added that the council would explore avenues to support the federal government in tackling security and economic challenges, noting that participation, though voluntary, is vital for national development.

The meeting was attended by prominent monarchs from the South-South, South-East, and South-West, including co-chairman Cletus Illomuanya and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.

The Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment to deepening collaboration with private medical practitioners as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery across the state and the country.
Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu restated the position on Thursday at the 48th Annual General Meeting and International Scientific Conference of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, held at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre.

Odu commended members of the association for their resilience and vital contributions to healthcare delivery, noting that private practitioners cater to between 60 and 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population. She described the conference theme, “Enhancing Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria: The Role of Private Medical Practitioners,” as both apt and timely.

Highlighting the growing role of the private sector in addressing emerging health challenges, the deputy governor also drew attention to the risks faced by practitioners, including kidnapping and violent attacks, describing their sacrifices as critical to sustaining healthcare services nationwide.

She reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to policies that promote quality healthcare, attract investment, and create an enabling environment for medical professionals to thrive. According to her, sustained synergy between public and private actors remains essential to building a resilient and inclusive health system.

Odu further spotlighted the state’s health insurance scheme, the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme, which partners with private health facilities to expand access to care. She disclosed that the initiative has funded several medical procedures, including surgeries, through such collaborations.

She urged participants to utilise the conference as a platform for meaningful engagement, knowledge exchange, and the development of practical solutions to challenges confronting the healthcare sector, expressing optimism that deliberations would yield actionable outcomes.

In his remarks, National President of the association, Adesola Adekunle Kayode, said the body had, over the past four years, achieved key reforms, including a new tariff structure and strengthened institutional frameworks to enhance the dignity of private practitioners.

Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion, Innocent Ekwem, decried the state of the nation’s health system and challenged participants to generate ideas capable of revitalising healthcare institutions.

The conference attracted stakeholders from across the health sector, underscoring renewed calls for collaboration to reposition Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.