Police Affairs Minister Vows to Implement and Evaluate Police Reform Roadmap

Police Affairs Minister Vows to Implement and Evaluate Police Reform Roadmap

Abuja, Nigeria – The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to implementing and continuously evaluating the Nigeria Police reform roadmap.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on police reforms held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, Gaidam emphasized the need for a structured mechanism to monitor the progress of police reforms. The event brought together key stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, the Director-General of the Institute of Police Studies, and representatives from the National Security Adviser’s office, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Police Trust Fund, CLEEN Foundation, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

According to a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Information & Public Relations, Mr. Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), the Minister emphasized the strategic coordination of donor support to avoid duplication of efforts and optimize resource allocation for police development.

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

He stressed that police reform is a top priority for the current administration, recalling that in October 2023, President Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Police Affairs, and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission to develop a comprehensive blueprint for sustainable police reform.

“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 characterized past efforts,” he added.

The Minister further noted that the core objective of the stakeholders’ engagement was to foster a multi-party, cross-societal consensus on police reforms. He stressed that public participation is vital, as true change requires collaboration across various segments of society.

“We recognize that true change cannot occur in isolation; it requires the involvement of various stakeholders. By engaging different groups, we aim to educate the general public about the intricacies of policing. This education is essential for fostering consensus and creating a nationally-owned reform blueprint that resonates with our society’s realities,” he explained.

Gaidam also assured that stakeholder engagement would be an ongoing process throughout the entire reform initiative. He emphasized that public opinion must be valued at every stage to ensure that the reforms reflect the needs and aspirations of the communities they serve.

Meanwhile, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Günther, highlighted Germany’s support for police training in Nigeria. She revealed that the German government has invested in upgrading police training facilities in Lagos, Enugu, Abuja, and Kaduna. More than 1,000 police trainers have also been trained in modern, adult-oriented learning techniques, with specialized courses in leadership, human rights, crisis communication, and gender-sensitive policing.

“Through our work with civil society organizations and national institutions, we have promoted key governance reforms, such as the establishment of the Police Transformation and Reform Office (PORTO), now succeeded by the Police Reform Secretariat, which drives the reform agenda forward,” Ambassador Günther stated.

With the Nigerian government and international partners working together, the Ministry of Police Affairs aims to create a policing system that is effective, transparent, and aligned with global best practices.