IGP Kayode Egbetokun being decorated by the founder, Al-Hikmah University, Chief Dr AbdulRaheem Oladimeji and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Noah Yusuf before the lecture on Thursday in Ilorin
▪︎ Urges decentralisation of the police force to allowing state to operate state-level police department
The Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun says effective policing is crucial for ensuring peace, security, and the overall well-being of the country.
Speaking at the maiden Centre for peace and security studies (CPSS), Distinguished Alumni Public Lecture of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Egbetokun said that all the stakeholders have critical roles to play in achieving a secure environment.
Egbetokun, the first to bag PhD of the Al-Hkmah University in Peace and Security, stressed the need for collaboration among all relevant stakeholders, which includes police, government institutions, community leaders, civil society organisations and the media to ensure a holistic approach to policing.
According to him, the active participation of the public, traditional and religious institutions, and the media in crime prevention and reporting can create a more robust security framework.
“Nigeria can achieve lasting peace and stability, improving the overall safety and quality of life for its citizens, by addressing the challenges impending effective policing.
“Ultimately, a reformed and empowered police force, backed by a supportive network of stakeholders, can contribute to building a more secure and just society foe all Nigerians.
“However, we recognise that overcoming our challenges requires comprehensive reforms, increased funding, the adoption of modern policing techniques to enhance the capabilities of the police and foster greater public trust and mobilising public support for the police,” he said.
The IGP in his short and long term recommendation said that the police should be removed from the envelop budget system which restricts the police to funding only ongoing projects. There should be more allocation of resources to equip and train law enforcement agencies effectively.
Egbetokun also suggested implementation of inclusive community policing programmes to build trust and encourage collaboration among all stakeholders.
He called for prioritizing of continuous training, especially in areas like cybercrime and human rights to improve police effectiveness.
The police boss called for the decentralisation of the police force to allowing state to operate state-level police department with clearly defined roles and oversight mechanisms.
He also recommended as a long-term measure the legislative reform to update the Police Act, to ensure the modern policing principles are enshrined in the law.
Egbetokun called for investment in police welfare, including better salaries, housing, healthcare and career development opportunities to reduce corruption and enhance job performance.
He stressed the need for inter-agency collaboration, creating a well-coordinated approach to national security between the police, military, intelligence agencies and other law enforcement agencies.
According to him, policing is a shared responsibility that demands a collaborative approach, leveraging the expertise and resources of government institutions, the judiciary, private enterprises, civil society organisations and community members.
“One of the key challenges hindering effective policing in Nigeria is the inadequate funding and resources allocated to law enforcement agencies
“The Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies often operate with limited resources, including outdated equipment, insufficient training and inadequate salaries which undermines their ability to perform optimally.
“This lack of resources affects their capacity to combat emerging crimes, such as cybercrime and terrorism, and hambers their overall effectiveness in maintaining public order ” he said.
Earlier the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Noah Yusuf said the topic of the lecture was careful selected and would go a long way to highlight collaborative efforts among stakeholders in intelligence gathering and effective policing to ensure a crime-free, peaceful and prosperous society.
Prof Yusuf stressed the need for synergy among all security operatives and stakeholders to ensure effective community policing and security of lives and property.
He said Al-Hikmah University being first Islamic Faith-based institution is committed excellence, research, and community engagement.
Yusuf pointed out that the University will not relent in its efforts toward equipping students with skills, knowledge, moral and character as future leaders.
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