A group, the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, better known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) has urged the government at all levels to ensure full implementation and compliance with the Police Act 2020.
It also called for broader public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about their roles and responsibilities in enforcing the law.
The Executive Director of PWAN, Kemi Okenyodo who was represented by the group’s Communications Officer, Ogechukwu Holly Mohanye made the call at a maiden Media Town Hall Meeting on Human Rights, the Police Act 2020 and Regulations by the organisation.
At the town hall which drew media stakeholders from various media organisations, Okenyodo noted that the Act was aimed at reshaping police-citizen interactions with an emphasis on human rights.
While emphasising the importance of public and media engagement in security governance, Okenyodo
said, “This project is about ensuring Nigerians are aware of their rights under the Police Act 2020 including key provisions on stop-and-search, bail procedures and interrogations. Such knowledge is crucial to fostering transparency, accountability, and trust between law enforcement agencies and the public”.
Okenyodo added that the forum also sought to educate media practitioners and the public on the provisions of the Act while encouraging responsible, rights-based reporting to foster accountability within law enforcement.
“Participants explored strategies to bridge gaps in understanding and implementing the Act across the country, with an emphasis on collaboration between stakeholders to ensure the success of these reforms,” she said.
Facilitators of the event, Mr. Tosin Osasona and Ms. Precious Osinaku highlighted the role of the media in fostering responsible and rights-based reporting on sensitive issues like arrests, stop-and-search, profiling among others.
They hinted on strategies to bridge gaps in understanding and implementation of the Act across the country.
Osasona reiterated the need for collective efforts on promoting awareness and understanding of the Police Act 2020 to foster the culture of accountability and respect for human rights.
He stressed that the Act prioritises transparency, accountability, equity, and fairness; adding that it sets clear boundaries on how law enforcement interacts with the public, especially in terms of information disclosure and protecting citizens from unjust treatment.
He further emphasised the importance of community policing, police accountability, and citizen engagement while stating that Nigeria has faced systemic issues in its policing characterised by allegations of corruption, misuse of power, and a significant disconnect between police operations and community expectations.
