By Omeiza Balogun
The Nigeria Police Force is undoubtedly the most visible security outfit in the country, with no fewer than 5,556 police stations, posts, and commands in Nigeria, with at least one police station in each local government area. Daily, these divisions, posts, and commands encounter members of the public while performing their constitutional responsibilities, sometimes resulting in conflicts. The media’s portrayal of these encounters has, over the years, tarnished the image of the Police, undermining the positive efforts of the force in protecting lives and property.
To bridge the gap between the public and the Force, the government and other stakeholders have intervened with legislation to control excesses within the Force and ensure better service delivery. The 2020 EndSARS movement exposed the existing gap between the public and the police, highlighting the challenges faced by the police in discharging their constitutional duties. These challenges include logistics, funding, training, and welfare for the Force, which have sometimes led to some members taking the law into their own hands.
While efforts were being made to build public confidence in the force’s management, the public remained sceptical. This scepticism poses a significant challenge to the Public Relations Department of the Force.
Established by the late Kam Salem (Inspector General of Police, 1966-1975), the Public Relations Department is responsible for relaying the Force’s activities to the public as a statutory function. The Department has expanded its services to State Commands, performing communication tasks such as publishing lists of wanted persons, missing persons, stolen vehicles, and security tips. The Department also organises press briefings, issues press releases and bulletins, writes lecture articles, and publishes photographs and advertisements to keep the public informed about police activities.
As the official mouthpiece of the Force, the Public Relations Department has evolved into a vibrant department with various outlets, including the Nigeria Police Radio 99.1FM, Abuja, The Dawn Newspaper, the Police Complaint Response Unit (PCRU), the Police Complaint Bureau (PCB), the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), and the Nigeria Police Public Relations School, Abuja.
In light of the above, the innovations by the department under the current Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, are worthy of study. Regrettably, as noted by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokunp, during the opening ceremony of the conference/workshop in Asaba, a significant proportion of stories about the police in the public domain are either negative, fabricated, or recycled from past events. These attempts not only undermine the efforts of the Public Relations Department but also hinder the Force Management’s efforts to rid the force of bad eggs.
The theme of the conference/workshop, “Strengthening Nigeria Police Force Oversight and Accountability,” couldn’t be more timely. It aligns with the general perspective on the responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force as an organisation that not only enforces laws but also builds public trust, respects human rights, and prevents crimes proactively.
To achieve these goals, the Force Public Relations Department must be at the forefront of engaging the public in a way that strengthens the Force’s oversight and accountability. The Inspector-General of Police IGP Egbetokun while pledging his commitment to having a robust Public Relations Department emphasized the importance of effective public engagement, highlighting that over 100 Public Relations Officers recently received training on crisis communication, media engagement, and conflict resolution techniques. Also deployment of state-of-the-art communication tools and harnessing the social media platform to receive complaints from members of the Pubic. While also acknowledging some bad eggs among the Force, IGP Egbetokun noted that it was “essential to recognize that the vast majority of our officers are dedicated, professional, and honourable”, as management will not allow “the commitment of these vast majority to safeguarding the nation to be overshadowed by the actions of the few bad elements in our midst”. Promising that the Force will “remain focused on reinforcing the professionalism that defines our Force, ensuring that the public continues to hold a high regard for our service”.
The Conference, approved by the current Inspector General of Police, IGP Egbetokun, aimed to achieve his vision of creating “a professional and disciplined force that is committed to upholding the rule of law, protecting the rights of citizens, and ensuring peace and security in the country.” This vision includes promoting integrity, accountability, and respect for human rights among personnel, as well as fostering a spirit of service to the community.
Key Takeaways from the Conference
1. Communication is Key:
Communication occurs daily, but its effectiveness depends on the sender’s attitude. Dr Monday Ashibogwu, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd), Yushau A. Shuaib, Mr Gbenga Onayiga, and Dr Paul Nyulaku emphasised current trends in communication, including handling public perception, criticism, and crisis management.
2. Perspective is Important:
Crises often escalate when parties fail to consider each other’s viewpoints. Dr. Monday Ashibogwu’s presentation highlighted the importance of understanding perceptions, interests, and conflict escalation. Likewise, Mr. Niresh Chapagain exposed participants to the challenges of policing in Nepal, especially with public perception and what programmes were put in place to bridge the gap between the police and members of the public.
3. Gender Matter, matters in Policing:
Gender plays a significant role in policing, impacting safety and justice. Prof. Magdalene Dura’s presentation emphasised gender integration as a tool for modern policing and human rights protection.
4. Peace is Underrated:
A peaceful environment breeds development and economic growth. Policing is crucial in unlocking development and growth, as highlighted in Nathanid Msen Awuapila’s presentation on peacebuilding and policing.
5. NPF Means Well:
Contrary to public perception, the Nigeria Police Force has been proactive in preventing crimes. Presentations from DCP Ajayi Oluyemi Commander C4-i—Citizen Reporting and The Use of Mobile Apps; ACP Dan Aroguma, rtd.—e-CMR Consultant; CSP El-Mustaphea, O/C Police Compliant Response Unit; and CSP Bisi Okuwobi, The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), all pointed to the Nigeria Police Force’s pro-activeness in their prevention of crimes across the country. These outlets and units have been at the forefront of designing and implementing initiatives that help members of the public to be part of the Nigeria Police Force Community Policing Initiative.
Speakers, facilitators, and participants at the Conference all pointed to the glaring fact that there is an urgent need to bridge the gap between members of the public and the Nigeria Police Force, through enhanced and effective Public Relations activities and engagement. As participants internalized the conference’s key takeaways, it is expected that, upon returning to their various commands and formations, they will implement fresh approaches that reflect the vision of the Inspector-General of Police.
