A three-day Peer Review and Draft Training Curriculum workshop on the changes in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) since 2020 was recently held in Abuja.
The event, organised by International Alert Nigeria under its Police Force Reform Initiative Phase II, aimed to assess and discuss research reports from various geopolitical zones across the country.
The Country Director of International Alert Nigeria, Dr. Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, emphasised the importance of the workshop in ensuring that the research aligns with the local context, tracking changes within the police force, and ensuring policy relevance.
He highlighted that the initiative is not just about building evidence but ensuring that the findings influence policy changes to improve Nigeria’s internal security.
“Our research aims to build not just evidence, but actionable, policy-relevant findings,” Nyulaku-Bemshima said.
He noted that the data from the reports would help transition the project from research to policy to effect meaningful change in the security sector.
Nyulaku-Bemshima also acknowledged the collective progress made by stakeholders, underlining that internal security cannot be solely the responsibility of the police.
“The police alone cannot guarantee public safety; it is a shared responsibility,” he added.
The Programme Lead of the UK Integrated Security Fund, Cliff Gai, expressed the UK’s commitment to supporting police reform in Nigeria. He emphasized that research provides valuable evidence to strengthen discussions around security, ensuring that policy recommendations are backed by solid data.
The Lead Consultant for the project, Professor Isaac Albert, shared insights into the second phase of the initiative, which focuses on evaluating the NPF’s response to the Police Act 2020.
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Albert stressed the importance of addressing gaps not only within the police force but also in government and society.
“We must recognize that the responsibility for policing does not rest solely with the police; as citizens, we too must play our part,” he said.
The Dean of Law at Bingham University, Professor Magdalyn Dura, discussed the significance of integrating the Police Act into police training. She highlighted the need for trainers to possess the skills necessary to teach both the practical aspects of field operations and the importance of gender-sensitive policing.
The Director General of the National Institute of Police Studies, Professor Olu Ogunsakin, praised International Alert for bringing together experts to help shape the future of Nigerian policing.
Ogunsakin emphasised that evidence-based discussions are crucial to driving meaningful reforms and ensuring that police practices meet the needs of the diverse Nigerian population.
The research, conducted over the last three months across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), forms the foundation for the workshop’s discussions, providing critical insights into the evolving role of the NPF since the enactment of the Police Act 2020.
The event was supported by the UK Integrated Security Fund and the Nigeria Stability Programme, further reinforcing the international commitment to police reform in Nigeria.
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