I am committed to Police Reform Initiative – IG of Police Assures

Report: Tunde Eso

The Inspector-General of Police (I-GP), Mr Usman Baba, has pledged the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) towards fostering reforms in the policing system of the country.

Baba gave the commitment when he received officials from the Police Reform and Transformation Office (PORTO) in the Presidency and inauguration of reforms documents and strategic communication materials on Tuesday in Abuja.

This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

"The Inspector-General of Police appreciated the efforts of the PORTO, the British Council, and ICRC towards fostering reforms in the policing system of the country," the statement said,

It quoted Baba as pledging the commitment of the police management towards fruitful partnerships for effective communication of the Presidential Reform Agenda across board and sustainable reforms in the NPF.

Adejobi said that the PORTO team, led by its Chief Executive Officer and Senior Special Adviser to the President on Research and Strategy, Mr. Tunji Lardner, presented the strategic communications materials to the I-GP at the occasion.

Also handed over to the police were other working tools produced by Supporting Police Reform Processes in Nigeria (SPRPiN) project led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Security Sector Reform Foundation (GS-Foundation).

The materials inaugurated include 2,000 copies of the Police Act, 2020; 2,000 copies of the Presidential Roadmap on Police Reform; 4,000 copies of Frequently Asked Questions produced in English, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo.

"Others are 1,000 flash drives containing various legislations on policing in Nigeria.

"The e-copies of the materials are available for download on the Nigeria Police and the CLEEN Foundation websites," he said.

The force spokesman quoted Lardner as saying, "the project is part of the support to the police reform initiative in Nigeria to shape perceptions and enhance awareness of the law and the ongoing reform process".

Adejobi said that the I-GP, and representatives of the European Union (EU) as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) inaugurated the newly produced Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Conduct of investigations, arrest, and management of persons in police detention and custody.

He said that the SOPs cover the conduct of investigative interviewing; search and seizures; identification parade; and conducting stop and search to boost smooth investigation, interrogation, and effective use and enforcement of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in Nigeria.

"The documents have been produced and circulated to officers and men having undergone necessary training sessions which will be continuous," Adejobi added.