Minister Moves To Streamline Police Reform Roadmap

Minister of Police Affairs Senator Ibrahim Gaidam has reiterated the ministry’s commitment to establish mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the police reform roadmap.

The minister stated this during the stakeholder’s engagement on police reforms comprising the chairman of the Police Service Commission; the German Ambassador to Nigeria, the Director-General of the Institute of Police Studies; and representatives of the National Security Adviser, Nigeria Police Force (NPF); Nigeria Correctional Service; Nigeria Police Trust Fund; CLEEN Foundation; United Nations Development Partners (UNDP) held at the Headquarters of the Ministry in Abuja.

The minister said the ministry would coordinate donor support strategically to prevent duplication of efforts, optimise the convergence of assistance, and ensure judicious allocation of resources to identified priorities in our police development plan.

He said, “This event aligns with our unwavering commitment to fulfilling the mandate set forth by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to reform the Nigeria Police by global best practices. Furthermore, we will actively promote adherence to the principles of trust and confidence, which are indispensable to successful policing”.

The minister further noted that the reform of our police force is not just a task but a crucial priority for the current administration as the primary responsibility assigned to the Ministry of police affairs by President Tinubu’s administration in October 2023 to develop a comprehensive blueprint for the sustainable reform of the Nigeria Police Force.

“This mandate reflects the administration’s recognition of the urgent need for transformation within our policing system. This initiative is designed to reshape the narrative surrounding police reforms in Nigeria, aiming to move beyond the rhetoric that has characterised past efforts,” the minister stated.

The minister also said that the core objective of the stakeholders’ engagement is to initiate a series of meaningful conversations to build a multi-party, cross-societal consensus on police reforms.

The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annet Gunther, stated that the German government has significantly invested in strengthening police training by refurbishing and equipping training facilities in Lagos, Enugu, Abuja, and Kaduna, and over 1000 police trainers have been trained in modern, adult-oriented learning technique, specialised training in leadership, human rights; crisis communication and gender-sensitive policing.