It has become a common practice in Nigeria that every newly appointed person into a position of authority announces his “arrival” by dishing out orders and commands. At various levels of government’s institutions and organisations, you see freshly appointed/elected leaders making all kinds of promises, assuring the people that they would do more than their predecessors did, unfortunately, most of them eventually end up as failures. Some people call it the initial gra gra. The situation is not different with the Nigeria Police Force, where every appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) wants to create the impression that he has come to correct all the anomalies associated with the force, and deal with all internal security issues in the country.  It is hard to remember any IGP who did not promise to make the force a more professional, respectable body, yet these noble qualities are still far to be found in the force.
Knowing how Nigerians detest the unwarranted intimidation of road users by police at road blocks, many past IGPs had announced ban on road blocks warning that any police personnel caught in the act would be decisively dealt with yet the road blocks never disappeared. From Abubakar Dikko Ibrahim,  Sulieman Abba, Solomon Arase,  to the immediate past IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, the story had not been different. They would direct that all semblances of police road blocks and permanent checkpoints in various parts of the country be dismantled. Those would be gone for a few weeks only to resurface soonest. Today, a new Sheriff is in town and he has promised to leave no stone unturned in carrying out the assignment of safeguarding lives and property including the well-being of everyone that lives in Nigeria and upholding the ideals of justice, security, and the rule of law.
To prove that he has not come to play, the Acting Inspector General of Police (AIGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, last week hinted on the plans to withdraw Mobile Police Personnel (MPP) from VIPs escort and guard duties. “Specifically, we shall effect the withdrawal of VIP escort and guard duties”. “While the protection of dignitaries remains paramount, it is imperative that we realign our priorities to address the escalating security challenges faced by the nation as a whole. “By relieving the MPP of VIP escort and guard duties, we can redirect their focus and efforts toward addressing critical security concerns that affect our communities at large,” he said. The deployment of a significant number of police officers to guard VIPs has been a long standing issue in Nigeria,  it has often left fewer personnel to address regular law enforcement duties and maintain security for the general public. Not a few citizens have expressed worries over the high number of orderlies and escorts attached to private businessmen, political appointees, actresses and even their children for security protection at the expense of other citizens.
Some of these “big men” and “big women” use these uniform men for all purposes, including taking their children to school, house helps to the markets and all that. Seeing police men and women carrying handbags for their madams at public functions is no big deal in the country any more. Some of them escort their bosses to lecture halls, carrying their bags, books and shoes and other belongings to and from the hall. It is a common place on our roads to see policemen and other traffic officers, ordering a driver on his right of way, especially at traffic jams to make way for another vehicle with siren and revolving light, probably escorting some persons who they think are more important than other Nigerians. Apart from violating the dignity of ordinary men, many avoidable accidents have occurred as a result of these unlawful, reckless acts.One can recall the former Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) and former IGP, Mike Okiro, not too long ago, lamenting that about 150,000 out of about 400,000 police personnel in the country were attached to private individuals.
Meanwhile, this is a country where the manpower of police is still lower than the United Nations recommended ratio of police to individuals. According to the UN, there ought to be one police officer for every 450 persons for effective policing. Nigeria, with a population estimated at 206,139,589, will therefore require about 458,087 policemen to adequately police the nation. With a chunk number of police personnel assigned to protect and serve just an insignificant percentage of the populace, many other Nigerians, particularly those in the rural areas where insecurity thrives, remain unprotected. It is therefore hoped that the AIGP will match his words with enough action so that this menace will be curbed. Let this not be an “initial gra gra” or go the way of similar directives of former IGPs which never saw the light of the day. Nigerians expect more actions than words.  Nigerians, want to see the AIG arrest, dismiss and prosecute erring officers including their supervisors who would flout the directive.
There are also expectations that the AIGP, if truly he wants to redeem the image of the police, should deal with corruption and all forms of impunity going on in the force. It is high time corrupt officers were held accountable through proper investigation, prosecution, and punishment. Impunity for corruption must be eliminated to send a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated. It is good that the AIG had announced, during his inaugural speech, that he would clear the salary arrears of the police men and women because ensuring police officers receive fair compensation and improved working conditions can help reduce the temptation for engaging in corrupt practices out of financial need. It will also boost the morale of the police personnel and can attract more qualified individuals and motivate current officers to perform their duties with dedication. For so long, the issue of police reform has been a topic for discussion. Many past administrations promised to make that happen but little or nothing was done in that direction. With the National Security Adviser to the president, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission being former excellent policemen of high repute coupled with Acting IGP known for his knack for excellence and professionalism, there is no better time to push for police reform than now.
The Nigeria Police Force sure, needs comprehensive reforms and sustained efforts to improve its efficiency, professionalism, and public trust. The authorities must invest in regular and comprehensive training programmes for police officers which should focus on law enforcement skills, human rights, community policing, conflict resolution, and ethics to ensure officers are well-prepared to handle their responsibilities.
The recruitment and selection process particularly for the rank-and-file cadre should be improved upon so as to attract qualified and competent candidates. Merit-based hiring rather than ethnic, religious and political considerations, background checks, and psychological evaluations must be emphasised to ensure only the best candidates were selected to join the force. There is also the need for adequate investment in Infrastructure and Equipment. A situation where the police men and women we trust our lives into their hands continue to live in squalor with barely enough equipment to work with, will hardly achieve the positive results we crave for.  Modern and appropriate equipment, including communication tools, vehicles, forensic tools, and surveillance technology, should be provided to our law enforcement officers to enhance their effectiveness.
We have always heard that security is everybody’s business. That being the case, the various states and police commands must adopt community-oriented policing approaches that involve collaboration between the police and local communities. This, definitely, will foster trust, encourage cooperation, and ensure that the police addressed the specific needs and concerns of the people they serve. However, implementing these strategies requires political will, financial commitment, and collaborative efforts from various stakeholders, including the government, police leadership, civil society, and the public. Long-term dedication to reform will be essential to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force and promote effective, accountable, and community-oriented policing. No doubt, this will make secondments, where VIPs use well trained police personnel as errand men and women, less attractive.