FRSC, India Train Law Enforcement Officers On Stress Management

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in collaboration with India’s Rashtriya Raksha University, has commenced an international training workshop aimed at strengthening stress management, psychological resilience and emotional well-being among law enforcement officers in Nigeria.

The five-day workshop, which opened on Monday at the FRSC National Headquarters in Abuja, brings together officers drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the FRSC.

In his keynote address at the opening ceremony, the corps marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, said the increasing demands of law enforcement had made psychological and emotional well-being a critical component of operational readiness.

According to him, officers are routinely exposed to traumatic incidents, road crashes, emergencies, disasters, security challenges and other critical situations capable of placing enormous psychological and emotional pressure on them.

He said while law enforcement agencies had traditionally concentrated on technical and operational competencies, experience had shown that sustainable effectiveness also depended on the mental and emotional well-being of personnel.

“Stress, when not properly managed, affects judgement, decision-making, interpersonal relationships, productivity and overall operational effectiveness,” the corps marshal said.

Mohammed said strengthening the psychological resilience of law enforcement officers had therefore become a strategic necessity rather than an optional consideration.

He disclosed that the FRSC partnered with Rashtriya Raksha University, India, to bring the international workshop to Nigeria as part of plans for the adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding between both institutions.

He said the partnership would expose Nigerian law enforcement personnel to global best practices in stress management, emotional regulation, psychological resilience, self-management and peer support.

According to him, “These competencies are essential not only for personal well-being but also for enhancing professionalism, improving casualty handling, strengthening emergency response and delivering quality service to the Nigerian people.”

Also speaking, the defence adviser and representative of the High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Colonel Manoj Singh said the programme was designed to enhance the safety, resilience and effectiveness of officers who operate in highly demanding environments.

He described the training as a product of growing cooperation between Nigeria and India, stressing the importance of equipping law enforcement personnel with the knowledge and skills required to manage occupational stress and emotional pressures.