Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, have emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among security agencies, state governments, and local communities to improve policing and public safety in Nigeria. Uzodimma made the call during a lecture at the 6th Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers held in Owerri. The event, which took place at the Landmark Event Centre, brought together senior police officers to discuss contemporary policing issues.
Uzodimma's lecture focused on the principle of subsidiarity and its relevance to policing and national security. He argued that the debate over state police should go beyond structural issues to determine how responsibility, knowledge, and capacity can be effectively deployed at the local level. Drawing from Imo's security experience since 2020, Uzodimma highlighted the importance of local intelligence in distinguishing between political violence and other criminal activities such as kidnapping and armed robbery.
The governor noted that communities possess vital information that security agencies can leverage to improve policing. However, he stressed that such intelligence must be professionally assessed and acted upon within the law. Uzodimma emphasized that the federal government and the Nigerian Police Force possess the means of coercion, while communities possess priceless knowledge that cannot be replicated by headquarters.
Uzodimma advocated for greater localization of policing, insisting that any state police arrangement must guarantee professionalism, merit-based recruitment, constitutional allegiance, and respect for citizens' rights. He also urged security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering and community partnerships, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections, to prevent electoral violence.
Responding to Uzodimma's lecture, IGP Disu charged police officers to apply the knowledge gained during the retreat to improve service delivery across the country. Disu commended Uzodimma for his support for the Nigeria Police Force and disclosed that complaints against police officers had reduced drastically, attributing the improvement to the efforts of Commissioners of Police.
The retreat featured lectures and discussions on various aspects of contemporary policing, including emotional intelligence, media relations, and elections. The high point of the three-day summit was the presentation of a certificate of appreciation to Uzodimma by the IGP in recognition of his support for the police. The event also included contributions from retired Inspectors-General of Police.
IGP Disu urged police officers to sustain the improvement in service delivery and work towards reducing complaints to almost zero by the end of the year. He emphasized that the police will continue to do their best to protect lives and properties. The collaboration between Uzodimma and Disu highlights the efforts of Nigeria's government and police force to enhance policing and public safety through community partnerships and intelligence gathering.
Key points
- Governor Uzodimma advocates for greater localization of policing in Nigeria.
- IGP Disu commends Uzodimma for his support for the Nigeria Police Force.
- The retreat aimed to improve policing and service delivery through knowledge sharing and community partnerships.
