By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has backed calls for the construction of 3,000 additional police stations across Nigeria, warning that the current number of police facilities is grossly inadequate to secure the country’s growing population.
The police chief made the remarks on May 15, 2026, during the Infrastructure Dialogue 2026 held in Abuja, where he stated that the Nigeria Police Force currently operates only about 2,000 police stations nationwide for a population exceeding 200 million people.
Represented by Commissioner of Police Obiora Oranwusi, Disu said the security infrastructure deficit was affecting operational effectiveness and limiting the ability of the police to respond adequately to crime and public safety challenges across the country.
According to him, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission had identified the urgent need for 3,000 new police stations, 1,000 new prisons, and 170 barracks nationwide.
He stressed that achieving such expansion would require public-private partnerships, development finance support, and capital market funding.
The IGP also highlighted several operational setbacks confronting the police force, including inadequate patrol vehicles, outdated communication systems, weak surveillance coverage, poor ICT infrastructure, insufficient forensic laboratories, and dilapidated police barracks.
Security experts at the event warned that weak policing infrastructure not only affects public safety but also discourages investment and economic growth, especially in regions facing rising insecurity and organised criminal activity.
Leave a Reply