The Dataphyte Foundation led a high-powered delegation of its People-centred Public Safety (PCPS) partners on a strategic courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Monday, June 8, 2026. 
The high-level engagement, held at the Force Headquarters, focused on exploring critical areas of collaboration to strengthen the mandate of the Nigeria Police Force and drive data-backed security reforms across the nation.
During the strategic session, Dataphyte’s Country Director, Oluseyi Olufemi, alongside the Head of Policy, Research and Communication (PRC), Khadija Kareem, officially presented Dataphyte’s Cost of State Policing policy brief to the Inspector General. The comprehensive document highlights key empirical findings and data-driven recommendations designed to constructively shape policy directions in the ongoing national conversation surrounding the decentralization of policing in Nigeria.
Unveiling the Economic and Operational Blueprint of State Policing
The policy brief provides an extensive structural breakdown of police personnel, financing mechanisms, and the estimated cost required to operationalize state policing effectively across the federation. By contrasting Nigeria’s current security architecture with comparative regional and global standards, the document advocates for an evidence-driven approach to deploying state police forces while ensuring that community safety remains entirely human-centric.
In tandem with the policy brief, the delegation briefed IGP Disu on Dataphyte’s Police Service Access Gap Survey and Police Needs Assessment Survey. The partners emphasized that understanding citizens’ perceptions and diagnosing internal capacity gaps within the force are fundamental to achieving effective, data-driven policymaking that will enhance national security. Furthermore, the police chief was updated on the progress of the Open Society Foundation (OSF)-supported PCPS project, an initiative dedicated to empowering local actors with the networks and data required to foster people-centred safety ecosystems.
Institutionalizing Community Policing and Accountability
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the President of Lawyers Alert, Dr. Rommy Mom, underscored the vital role the PCPS framework plays in fortifying grassroots security and institutionalizing Community Policing Committees (CPCs) as mandated by the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
“The collective efforts of our implementing partners are actively transforming community-police relations in pilot states like Benue and Bayelsa. By operationalizing Community Policing Committees, amplifying data-driven storytelling, and strengthening early-warning information networks, we are building community resilience. Our commitment also includes strategic litigation for accountability, which ensures strict oversight and sustainable policy changes for social development,” Dr. Mom stated.
A Unified Commitment to Secure Nigeria
The dialogue concluded with a mutual commitment to bridge the trust gap between civil society and law enforcement. Moving forward, both the Nigeria Police leadership and the PCPS partners which include prominent organizations such as Lawyers Alert, CJID, Nextier, CLEEN Foundation, Citizens’ Gavel, and SERAP pledged to deepen their collaboration. This synergy aims to fulfill the overarching objective of promoting public safety, long-term peace, and stronger community-police relations across all geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
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