In a significant move towards police reform, Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, declared on Monday that the police high command is set to execute President Bola Tinubu’s directives. These directives include the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP security duties and the development of a community policing strategy.
During a two-day management retreat at the Ministry of Police Affairs, the minister acknowledged the critical juncture at which the Nigeria Police Force and the Ministry find themselves. She highlighted the challenges resulting from decades of neglect that have impeded their ability to fulfill their constitutional mandate.
Suleiman-Ibrahim emphasized the ministry’s commitment to aligning efforts with President Tinubu’s vision for a renewed and highly effective Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Key areas of focus include the Police Inspectorate Department’s evolution towards robust monitoring, evaluation, and accountability. The minister stressed the importance of evidence-based reports to enhance police performance.
She called for a review of the curriculum in training institutions to ensure relevance to the evolving landscape of law enforcement. The Police Service Department was urged to optimize administrative functions, update policies, and embrace cutting-edge technology to foster an intelligence-led, technology-driven, inclusive, and community-based police force.
The Planning, Research, and Statistics Department were tasked with positioning itself as a knowledge hub, conducting cutting-edge research to inform policymaking and shaping evidence-based strategies for the NPF.
Highlighting the key mandates, Suleiman-Ibrahim emphasized the implementation of a harmonized police reform report, amendment of the Police Act, and execution of the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP security duties. She urged a transformative approach to these initiatives for enhancing internal security in Nigeria.
In a related development, the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, had announced plans to withdraw Police Mobile Force personnel from VIP escort/guard duties, aiming to reassign them to the newly established Special Intervention Squad. The clarification was made that the withdrawal did not constitute a blanket ban on all police officers providing VIP escort services, but a specific reassignment of the Police Mobile Force personnel.
The Police Force also emphasized that VIPs entitled to police escorts would continue to receive specialized services through units like the Special Protection Unit, while thorough screening would be applied to individuals not falling within the legal framework for such security details.
The Ministry of Police Affairs anticipates these reforms will contribute to the realization of a modern, efficient, and community-focused Nigeria Police Force.