Photo caption from left: Representative of the United Nations Development Partners, Chamila Thishani; German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther; Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam; Ag. Permanent Secretary, Tochukwhu Okhie and Representative of the National Security Adviser, Director (Legal), Zakari Myyinyawa during the stakeholder’s engagement on police reforms held at the Headquarters of the Ministry recently in Abuja.
By Charles Okonji
The Minister of Police Affairs (MPA), Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has reaffirmed commitment of the Ministry to establish mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the police reforms roadmap.
Gaidam made this known during the stakeholders engagement on police reforms comprising the Chairman Police Service Commission; the German Ambassador to Nigeria; the Director-General of the Institute of Police Studies; representatives of the National Security Adviser; Nigeria Police Force (NPF); Nigeria Correctional Service; Nigeria Police Trust Fund; CLEEN Foundation and United Nations Development Partners (UNDP) held at the headquarters of the Ministry recently in Abuja.
He noted that the Ministry will coordinate donor support strategically in order to prevent duplication of efforts, optimize the convergence of assistance, and ensure judicious allocation of resources to identified priorities in our police development plan.
According to him, “This event aligns with our unwavering commitment to fulfilling the mandate set forth by President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigeria Police in accordance with global best practices. Furthermore, we will actively promote adherence to the principles of trust and confidence, which are indispensable to successful policing”.
The Minister expressed that the reforms of police force is not just a task but a crucial priority for the current administration, stressing that the primary responsibility assigned to the MPA by President Tinubu’s administration in October 2023, and directed the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Police Affairs, and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission to develop a comprehensive blueprint for the sustainable reforms of the Nigeria Police Force.
In his words, “This mandate reflects the administration’s recognition of the urgent need for transformation within our policing system. This initiative is designed to reshape the narrative surrounding police reforms in Nigeria, aiming to move beyond the rhetoric that characterized past efforts.
“The core objective of the stakeholders’ engagement is to initiate a series of meaningful conversations aimed at building a multi-party, cross-societal consensus on police reforms.
“We recognize that true change cannot occur in isolation; it requires the involvement of various segments of the society. By engaging different stakeholders, we aim to educate the general public about the intricacies of policing. This education is essential for fostering the consensus needed to create a nationally-owned reform blueprint that will create a clear and actionable path forward that resonates with the realities of our society”.
“The engagement with stakeholders is not a one-time event; it is essential throughout the entire reform process noting that public opinion must be sought and valued at every stage of the initiative and to ensure that the reforms are reflective of the needs and aspirations of the communities they serve.
The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annet Gunther stated that the German government has significantly invested in strengthening police training by refurbishing and equipping training facilities in Lagos, Enugu, Abuja, and Kaduna, and over 1000 police trainers have been trained in modern, adult-oriented learning technique, specialized training in leadership, human rights; crisis communication and gender-sensitive policing.
In her words, “Through our work with civil society organizations and national institutions, we have promoted key governance reforms, such as the establishment of the Police Transformation and Reform Office (PORTO) now succeeded by the Police Reform Secretariat which drives the reform agenda forward.”
