Abuja: Experts in the security sector held a peer review meeting to assess a research report on the changes in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) since the enactment of the 2020 Police Act. The workshop, organized by International Alert in Abuja, received support from the UK Integrated Security Fund and the Nigeria Stability Programme.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, Country Director of International Alert, revealed this during a two-day workshop focused on the peer review of the research report and the draft training curriculum. Nyulaku-Bemshima noted that the meeting was part of a research project conducted over the past three months across 19 states, including the FCT, to evaluate changes within the NPF since 2020. The research highlighted key internal changes in policy, institutional practices, and the relationship between the police and the public.
Nyulaku-Bemshima emphasized the importance of tracking these changes to ensure the reports are policy-relevant. He highlighted International Alert’s initiative for a mutual accountability and community scorecard project, underscoring the shared responsibility of public safety and security between the public and the police. This initiative is currently being implemented in nine states, including the FCT, with positive engagement reported in Abia, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Lagos states.
Prof. Magdalene Dura, Dean of Law at Bingham University, discussed the peer review’s role in drafting a training curriculum. She highlighted the need to effectively impart the Police Act knowledge to trainees, ensuring it translates into operational service. Dura also addressed the existing gap in gender training and the curriculum’s aim to enhance trainees’ practical skills for field operations.
Prof. Olu Ogunsakin, Director-General of the National Institute of Police Studies, Abuja, noted the Police Act 2020’s role in standardizing police operations. He explained that the Act aims to implement standard policing practices while considering the country’s diverse zones, people, and tribes. Ogunsakin praised International Alert for facilitating expert dialogue on implementing research findings related to the Police Act.
Prof. Isaac Albert, Lead Researcher at the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, emphasized the research’s focus on public and police self-perception. He noted that previous studies often demonized the police, overlooking their broader societal roles. The research aims to gauge the extent of NPF’s changes, identifying positive developments, existing gaps, and strategies to address these gaps. Albert stressed the importance of understanding the responsibilities of various stakeholders, including government and society, in improving policing in Nigeria.