Police and crime control in Nigeria

An Expose

Abstract

The Nigerian Police which was inherited from the British Colonial Police has failed to live up to the expectations of majority of Nigerians with regard to the performance of their duties and other logistic demands. The major reasons for their failure are poor remuneration, poor entry qualification, lack of trust from the community members whom they serve, poor attitude to work, Police being members of the corrupt Nigerian society and finally undue government intervention in Police duties to deal with political opponents and public opinion makers or to protect criminals who are their thugs. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006 inaugurated presidential committee on Police reform. The committee was asked in its terms of reference to “…examine Force recruitment policy, equipment, review and recommend measures in the reorganization, administration, operation and control of the Nigeria Police Force, with a view to enhancing effectiveness and efficiency in its operations and standard of training and other personal development activities and make recommendations for the modern Nigeria Police” (Newswatch, January 29, 2007 p.26). Despite, this noble gesture by the Federal Government for a new Nigeria Police Force, the expected result has not been achieved. This paper recommends training and retraining for Police Officers both in job performance and Police-community relations and undue government interfering in Police duties should be stopped.