International Alert, an international peacebuilding NGO, supporting peace by tackling the root causes of conflict has called for the operationalization of the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
The Country Director, International Alert, Nigeria, Dr Paul Nyulaku – Bemshima, at a 2 days national stakeholders retreat on policing in the country in Abuja, said these became necessary because there is need of widespread knowledge about the act itself.
According to him, they carried out assessments and discovered that there is need to increase awareness and do a lot of sensitization around the Police Act 2020 among police officers particularly the police public relations officers and the public.
He said this goes to show how important it is for people to understand what is in the act and the different elements within the act.
“We are very deliberate and how we are breaking down the acts. We are using infographics, making sure that we put it in plausible simple forms that people can understand and relate with.
“There is quite a lot around resourcing of the police, and more recently, community policing. There has been a lot of efforts at establishing community policing and making it work in Nigeria. The police act lays out very clearly how that should happen,” he said .
Also, the Provost, Nigeria Police Force Public Relations School and Former Force Public Relations Officer, Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu (CP RTD) said the Act mentiomed so many things about about human rights of Nigerians.
He said it is an act to make sure that police works in line with the fundamental human rights of Nigeria because the main job of police is to promote and protect democracy. So this act is good, man we can be better.
He said beyond the Act ,there are many things the govement can do to improve the police adding that one of the thing the Act entails is that police should increase the training of their officers.
The DIG Training ,Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Frank Mba said the retreat marked the beginning of a journey towards establishing a community of practice on policing, where stakeholders exchange ideas, best practices, and innovative solutions.
Mba represented by AIG Training and Development, Yetunde Longe said the Police Act of 2020 provides the framework within which law enforcement agencies operate, emphasising the principles of transparency, accountability, and community engagement.
According to him, community policing is not just a concept; it is a philosophy that embodies the idea of shared responsibility and mutual respect between law enforcement agencies and the communities they protect.
“By working together, we can create safer neighborhoods,build stronger relationships, and address the root causes of crime and insecurity.
“Your expertise, insights, and feedback are invaluable as we strive to enhance the effectiveness and responsiveness of our policing efforts.
“I encourage each of you to actively participate, share your perspectives, and engage in constructive dialogue throughout our discussions.
“Together, we can drive meaningful change, strengthen police-community relations, and build a safer, more inclusive society for all,”he said
