Background

The Nigeria Police Force was mismanaged by successive military governments of Nigeria. The police force was underfunded and its personnel paid meagre salaries and allowances. This engendered a culture of repression, impunity, corruption, irresponsibility, and brutality stemming from lack of recognition for basic human rights, among its personnel.

Past Reform and Achievements

Various police reforms have been carried out since the return to democratic government in 1999. Some of the channels through which these reforms have been carried out include, Committee on Police Reforms in 2006, Presidential Committee on the Reform of the Nigeria Police Force in 2008, Presidential Committee on the Reorganisation of the Nigeria Police Force in 2012.

The Police Academy, Wudil was upgraded to a degree awarding institution, and the recruitment process restructured, to improve the human capital going into the force. The funding of the force was restructured to include contributions by the state and local governments, in addition to the federal government’s. The force was also made to become self-accounting and to be in control of its budget. Salaries and general welfare of the police officers have generally improved. Police barracks and offices were increased and existing ones renovated across the country.

Challenges and Next Steps

The disconnect between the functional Departments of the Force Headquarters, Zonal and State Commands should be rectified. Use of funds should be regulated with frequent auditing. Police presence in rural areas should be increased. Forensic crime laboratories should be built. Efforts should be made towards the establishment of a comprehensive criminal database and Crime Statistics Bureau. Illegal deployment and utilisation of police manpower should cease. Capacity building should be conducted for police officer to enhance their use of modern policing technologies. Drug and alcohol abuse among police personnel should be sanctioned. Monitoring mechanisms should be put in place to check abuses by police officers. The establishment of parallel security agencies in the country should be checked; funds that would have been diverted into these new agencies should rather be used strengthening the various organs of the Nigeria Police Force.