At a glance, can you tell the difference between an officer of the Nigeria Police and his counterparts in other parts of the world? I ask this question with respect to uniform dressing, kits, weaponry and mode of operation. It is no gain saying that the effectiveness of Nigeria’s domestic as well as national security largely depends on the Nigeria police force and its level of compliance to recommended global policing best practices in this 21st century.
In my previous posts, I outlined some active emergency hotlines of security agencies inNigeria including that of the Nigeria Police. That information really implies that security in Nigeria is rapidly evolving positively. At least, during emergencies or security breach, we have phone lines to contact for immediate attention and response by security agencies.
Let me now affirm also the Nigeria Police has also truly evolved over the years. Now I see more patrol vehicles, newer and more decent police uniforms, more police outposts and unit formations as well as renewed commitment to fighting crime by the ranks in the Nigeria Police Force. Sadly, these developments may not be enough in ensuring effective security in this 21st century. As crime and insecurity have regrettably taken acute dimensions in this 21st century, I expect the Nigeria police to metamorphose into a zero-lip service, more vibrant and pro-active crime-bursting security outfit. From the ranks to the file, the Nigeria police force should be more result-driven with undiluted commitment to duty, sincerity of purpose and strict adherence to professional ethics and conduct in the discharge of their safety and security duties.
In this post, I shall tender some ideological proposals of what the Nigeria police force ought to be in this 21st century and also where the security outfit is presently lacking. In as much as I salute the commitment, zeal and true spirit of patriotism exhibited by past and present police chiefs in Nigeria, the police can only become 21st century compliant when these same qualities trickle down and become entrenched at the local units and smallest divisions of the force. It is only when the local people begin to feel this positive impulse from the local police units that the lost public confidence on the Nigeria police can be built or restored as the case may be.
To effectively tackle insecurity, crime and general breach of safety of lives and property in this 21st century, the Nigeria police should rise up to the following ideologies;

Great Tact in Arrest and Suspect Handling

 
The Nigerian constitution stipulates that a suspect is innocent until proven guilty by the court of law. Also, every individual is entitled to some legal rights including respect and dignity of the human person. Therefore the Nigeria police should ensure that all forms of physical rough-handling, beaten and other inhuman or embarrassing treatments are abolished entirely from the force. Unfortunately, these abuses are allegedly and reportedly common occurrences in the rural or local police divisions, away from the preying eyes of citizens in urban areas who can understand and defend their rights better.
If every suspect is handled with respect and caution, the Nigerian public will develop friendlier attitude and more willingness to cooperate with the Nigeria police. Consequently, vital security information sharing between the police and the public will be enhanced which will lead to better public security and effective crime fighting in Nigeria.

Adherence to Professional Ethics, Conducts, Academic and Psychological Development

Whether we like it or not, a police officer’s level of education directly affects his understanding and actions in the line of security and safety duties. It is unfortunate that most junior ranks of the Nigeria Police force did not require a university degree to get into the police force. Being a delicate job, how then can an average junior officer of the law effectively manage public security as well as its attendant concerns?
Surely, dealing with such critical matters as public security requires huge skills such as effective communication skills, social and professional etiquette, sound psychology and rationale and many more. I recommend that all officers and men of the Nigeria police must regularly expand their knowledge base through avenues of personal intellectual developments. Such avenues include but not limited to training and retraining, conventional academic pursuits, seminars, workshops, conferences and even in-house pet talks. There should also be a regular medical and psychological checkup for all rank and file in all divisions and units of the Nigeria police force.

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An effective public security in this 21st century should entertain no room for lapses hence, the need to leave no stone unturned in the development of the Nigeria police in these regards.

Uniforms, Kits and Weaponry

In line with best global practices, a police man on duty is entitled to at least a hand or waist gun, a handcuff, a communication device to mention but a few. But what do we see in the case of the Nigeria Police officer? How can the Nigerian officer of the law effectively battle crime and all forms of insecurity when an average police man only has his uniforms to work with? I am not castigating the Nigeria police rather bringing to fore the need to fully equip the Nigerian nation’s foremost internal security outfit. We have seen how insecurity has become sophisticated, so should the Nigeria police rise to the challenge for effective security in this 21st century.
In some countries of the world, two police men work as partners and are entitled to a police patrol vehicle. This car is usually equipped with communication devices and an iron barricade in the back seat in case of any arrest in the course of their daily routine. In some cases, there may be some heavier weapons like assault rifles affixed to this police patrol vehicle in case the police officers encounter heavier security challenges that may require such heavier weapons to dislodge. Such logistics certainly boost the morale of security officers on duty which relates to better security and crime control. The Nigeria police should imitate these and more for all its officers and men in all divisions and units all over Nigeria.

Superb Welfare Package and Efficient Insurance System

This is virtually the best motivating factor for officers and men of the Nigeria police. Being a risky job to safeguard lives and property and to fight crime, there has to be a perfect compensation plan in place to enable the nation’s security officers meet up with the challenges of tackling insecurity and crime in this 21st century Nigeria. My recommendations are endless but I think we can start from the afore-mentioned. There is no better time to restructure the Nigeria police from its grassroots than now. The truth is that no matter how good the security chiefs at the top are, their efforts will amount to little or nothing if the officers and men at the local units and divisions do not compliment with same commitment, zeal and spirit of patriotism in the discharge of their security duties in this 21st century Nigeria.

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