Minister of Police Affairs (State), Hon Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim’s recent townhall meeting in Lagos has elevated the conversation for community policing in Nigeria, writes Ibrahim Jimoh.
The activities of the Minister of Police Affairs (State), Hon Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim in Lagos was a fusion of human interest and public policies. Her interface with the underprivileged and disadvantaged wives and children of police men and women at the police barracks has opened another vista for the deliberation on the welfare of these gallant officers.
Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim took time to tranverse the barracks, hospitals and clinics of all police formation alongside the police training colleges and other facilities. The tour was an eye opener to her that a lot are needed to be done.
Besides that, at the townhall meeting in Lagos, the minister restated the commitment of the Tinubu’s administration towards ensuring that deep reforms, are backed by a robust implementation plan and innovative resource mobilisation and allocation, which has been the bane of previous reform efforts. According to her, the goal is to see to the emergence of a world-class police force that is inclusive, intelligence-led, technology-driven, and community-based and that is alive to its constitutional responsibilities.
She assured the large gathering that the Nigeria Police Force will live up to its responsibilities in ensuring the safety of the lives and properties of Nigerians.
Like a minister who knows her onion, Sulaiman Ibrahim stated that In her role as the Minister of State Police Affairs, she has made commitment to supporting efforts aimed at delivering viable solutions to tackle the complex issues that have limited the capability of the Nigeria Police Force, and she itend doing this by rebuilding trust, restoring confidence and redefining policing in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Security is local, and the minister acknowledged that the unique dynamics of each community is essential in the pursuit of a safer nation. “This Townhall is therefore the first in an extensive series of Townhall engagements across the Country, to catalyse grassroots understanding of security dynamics and foster community-specific solutions. Recognising that security is inherently local, our approach must reflect an appreciation for the distinct characteristics, challenges, and strengths of each community.
Local security interventions must therefore be designed based on local peculiarities and considerations, with the full participation of members of the various communities and blocks, to ensure inclusivity and full ownership. For instance, some communities are experiencing security challenges relating to a very high influx of other nationals; others are struggling with insecurity relating to rapid urbanization, while some are struggling with insecurity triggered by resource control and the agrarian nature of their environment, amongst other.
Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim believes that the time is now for the implementation of the big ideas of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope police agenda. So, she said that six foundational pillars serve as strategic frameworks meticulously crafted to redefine and strengthen the Nigeria Police Force.
She said: “The first is Technical and Operational Excellence: Harnessing cutting-edge technology and refining operational protocols to elevate the capabilities of our Police Personnel. This will also include strengthening the air and marine capabilities of the Nigeria Police Force to boost its operational effectiveness.
“Second is Infrastructure Advancement: Undertaking a comprehensive standardisation, modernisation and fortification initiative for the physical infrastructure of the Nigeria Police Force. This includes upgrading facilities and establishing command centers to bolster operational efficiency.
“Third is Welfare Enhancement: Focusing on the holistic well-being of our officers by implementing comprehensive support systems and healthcare measures. This pillar aims to bolster the physical, mental, psychological, and financial health of our dedicated personnel.
“Fourth is Policy Framework Development: Crafting a comprehensive policy framework to serve as the backbone of the entire law enforcement apparatus. This entails adherence to best practices, thereby rebuilding public trust and ensuring the highest standards of professionalism and accountability.
“Fifth is Branding, Citizen Engagement, and Public Trust Management: Initiating a strategic branding campaign to cultivate a positive and contemporary image for the Nigeria Police Force. This involves active engagement with citizens and effective management of public trust through transparent and accountable practices.
“Sixth is Community Collaboration and Public Trust: Establishing collaborative partnerships within the community to enhance citizen engagement and fortify public trust. This pillar emphasises the importance of a symbiotic relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
The Honourable Minister believes that these pillars collectively form the cornerstone of efforts and aim to position the Nigeria Police Force in an efficient pathway characterised by transparency, public confidence, and a strong connection with the communities it serves.
“We are all custodians of security and must contribute to shaping a safer and more resilient society by showing our support to the men and women of the Force, who continue to demonstrate a high level of patriotism and selflessness to the service of the Country.
“As a forward-looking administration, we are now committed to these deep reforms, backed by a robust implementation plan and innovative resource mobilisation and allocation, which has been the bane of previous reform efforts. The goal is to see to the emergence of a world-class police force that is inclusive, intelligence-led, technology-driven, and community-based and that is alive to its constitutional responsibilities. I am therefore confident and can assure you that the Nigeria Police Force will live up to its responsibilities in ensuring the safety of the lives and properties of Nigerians.”
The minister submitted that the Lagos Model of crime fighting as initiated by the President while he served as governor have been sustained by the successive governors especially Babajide Sanwo-Olu.I thank President Bola Tinubu, for his unprecedented commitment to transforming all critical areas of the economy, with a special focus on security and the Nigeria Police Force. I also commend and appreciate the Lagos State Governor, my friend and brother, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for sustaining and building on the security foundations laid by Mr President for a safer Lagos State. The Lagos State Security Trust Fund continues to be a shining example of the possibilities of local participation and collaboration in securing communities.
Innspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun said that by involving the communities and citizens at large in the policing decision making process, the Honourable Minister is merely giving effect to Robert Peels Principles of Policing which emphasise that ‘the people are the police, and the police are the people’. The import of this is that the option of crime management through meaningful communal engagement remains the most potent policing model and my policing vision, strategies and leadership actions are fundamentally entrenched on this firm and time-tested foundation.
By convening this townhall meeting, the minister is giving the requisite ministerial leadership towards perfecting this model of policing and “aiding my leadership in the process. In cognizance of this, I wish to acknowledge and most sincerely commend the foresight, thoughtfulness, and zeal of the Hon. Minister in appreciating the strategic importance of engaging constantly with the citizens towards the perfection of our community safety and internal security mandate”.
The minister appealed to the public to be more security sonscious. She said: “I wish to encourage citizens to see policing, communal safety, and security as a joint mandate with the Police. In so doing, they should demonstrate more sensitivity to issue of crime prevention and offer useful criminal information that will aid the police in keeping them safe. The wider the trust and information-sharing gap between the police and the citizens, the more we as a people inadvertently empower criminal elements to succeed in their evil plan to threaten our value for peace and security.”
- Jimoh is a freelance journalist
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