A walk into the Police Training College in Nonwa Tai, Rivers State reveals a sorry state of an institution saddled with the responsibility of training individuals on protecting lives and properties of Nigerian citizens. From the entrance of the building, one is greeted with dilapidated buildings, unpleasant smell oozing from the environment , falling ceiling and roof, which sadly have become the signature of such a supposedly revered institution. These images reveal the negligence of the Nigeria Police Force, not just in Rivers State but across the country.
The Nigerian Police Force established in 1930, has the main objective of providing security for the entire nation and as part of the judiciary arm of government, enforce the laws of the nation. The performance of these duties by men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force has been marred with challenges, arising from underfunding and decades of neglect. A view into these challenges show an unsatisfactory welfare system, lack of community commitment towards assisting the force, distrust, corruption among others.
As a result, though not justified, many police officers have institutionalised corruption. Today, police checkpoints have become cash points across the country, in such a manner that extortion of money from motorists, especially commercial drivers, is an entitlement. Instead of aiming their guns at criminals, many police officers have decided to aim their guns at innocent citizens, if they fail to cooperate with them. In some cases, they carry out their brutal threats resulting to unfortunate loss of lives, which may trigger unrest in the particular area.
These developments could have been avoided if the welfare and working condition of the Nigeria Police Force had been holistically addressed . To this end, the welfare system of the Nigeria Police Force should be overhauled, to provide better healthcare access, adequate equipment and facilities, better salaries and incentives as well as fair working hours.
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Such a better support system, no doubt , will motivate the officers to deliver effectively on their duties. There is also the need to carry out continuous training and orientation which focuses on human rights and ethical conduct ; conflict resolution and community policing; as well as modern crime investigation.
Reforming the recruitment process of the police is equally crucial. The selection should be based on merit, while psychological evaluation of candidates should be properly carried out alongside strict background checks. Furthermore, there is a need for police to have a good relationship with communities. To achieve this, there should be periodic town hall engagements and open dialogue as well as a partnership with the local security network to assist the force in providing intelligence.
This will go a long way to bridge the lack of trust between the citizens and the Police. Technology is another veritable tool towards achieving effective policing in the country as it enhances crime prevention and investigation. In this regard, it is important to train the force to be up to speed with modern technology. Combating corruption and misconduct in the force may require establishing independent police oversight bodies to monitor their conduct.
Reviewing outdated laws, for instance, establishing faster prosecution mechanisms for criminals and strengthening the Police Service Commission to ensure ethical standards, will also help. It should be noted that transforming the Nigerian Police Force requires collective effort from both the government and the public. With strong training programs, anti-corruption measures, improved welfare, and advanced technology, the Nigeria Police Force would evolve into a respected and efficient institution.
