The Nigeria government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's eight point agenda had prioritized security of lives and properties, as well as gave attention to both domestic and international image in the area of securing both national and international reputation, that is fully protected and rejigged.
Since charity they said starts from the homes, the idea of community police meant not only for the protection of lives and properties from the grassroots, but ensured community participation and also nip in the bud any unforseen security threats in the country from the grassroots, rather than looking for solutions.
Under the Minister of State , Police Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi, the new idea capable of not only refocusing and rejigging the community policing in line with the new ideals of the present administration, but embarked on mass orientation, awareness and town hall meetings across the country, including the nations city, the Federal Capital Territory FCT to aggregate the 21st century.
The meeting which kick-started in Nasssarawa state Capital , Lafia in June was expected to go round the country with a view to sensitise , concientise and expand the hitherto Police Community Relations Committed PCRC, into a more focussed , functional union between the indigenes and the members of the Nigerian Police NPF.
With the launch in Nasssarawa state that has 13 local governments, it is now obvious that the Program of Community Policing and police towards building a safer society, tackling issues of criminality, and creating a peaceful environment has debuted in the state and expected to spread across the country, devoid of controversies surrounding the creation of State Police.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Youths and it's local peculiarities, the Community Policing aside it's contemporary image will be positioned to deal and resolve amicably any forseen and unforseen circumstances, arising from any communally induced disagreements that is likely to spread state wide and national level, whether legitimate or illegitimate as been canvassed by some youths groups in the country, ahead of the forthcoming planned national protest.
What the new method of Community policing has imbued by the Police Affairs Ministry , under Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim was a system that unites not only members of the society with police, getting community directly involved in solving both criminal and civil disorders and makes the community involved in judicial settlements of societal problems, unrest, and protests both envisaged and un- envisaged in line with the modern , modest policies.
Under the police act and constitutionally, security of lives and properties remained one of the cardinal objectives of government, therefore a reviewed security architecture that will be alive to counter internal security cannot be overemphasized.The rebranded community policing is expected to consider the power of peaceful engagements, dialogue, and collaboration among the citizenry over protests and confrontation.
With the engagement of communities in multiple ongoing town halls, the pulse, the stock, that have developed a transformative roadmap for reforming the Nigeria Police Force NPF, with a view to meeting any challenges. Therefore, seeing to the emergence of a world-class Nigeria Police Force NPF , that is fit for the 21st Century, inclusive, community-based, intelligence-led, and technologically driven, while excelling in maintaining public safety, upholding the rule of law, and fostering community trust, through transparent and accountable practices.
This was done through making significant progress in expanding the human and technical capability of the NPF, with a commitment to recruiting over 40,000 young Nigerians into the Force over the next years, and the planned recruitment for 2024 , already at an advanced stage. The welfare has been improved to boost officers’ morale, attesting that there was an increasing level of discipline and professionalism in the Nigeria Police Force NPF.
This was in addition to partnership with the Ministry of Youths to create a platform for robust engagement between the NPF and the youth and served as a grievance reporting channel. The Nigeria Police Public Complaint Committee PCC was enhanced to improve the response time of the Complaint Response Unit of the NPF, both key platforms for lodging complaints against police officers from members of the public.
Government was already closely monitoring complaints and ensuring closure in all cases, While urging Nigerians to engage with this team for any complaints or challenges relating to the NPF, rather than taken laws into their hands. With community policing, working together to find solutions that uplift and unite the country rather than tear us apart was imminent.
This was against the myopic ideas of resistance and protests which can easily be hijacked by criminal elements, leading to unintended consequences, causing harm to people and property, and creating divisions that are difficult to heal both at the local and national level.The community policing is expected to engage in constructive conversations, listen to each other’s perspectives, and work towards common goals.
With collective will and collaboration, a Nigeria of our choice can be built , that we are all proud of, one that offers hope, opportunity, and justice for every citizen.
With the administrative acumen of the Police Affairs Minister of State, Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim, there is no doubt , the solid foundation been laid for the Nigeria Police, deploying the community policing platform among others , will not only be legendary, but reformed the entire force.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on [email protected].
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