CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

       The Nigeria police force came into existence 1st April 1930, when amalgamated, forming the Nigeria police with its headquarters in Lagos, commanded by an inspector-general Mr. Dunca in 1937.

       But before then, it had its origin in Lagos in 1861 when consol William McCoskry at the time complained to his home government for over the numerous duties assigned to him among those of the police. So permission was sought from the British government to enlist consular guard of 30 men.

       Since the establishment of the Nigeria police in 1930, various service-chiefs had struggled to attain a greater level of policing to bear in the mind of people to ensure only a practical means, so that people of Nigeria upon realizing the fact, initiated efforts with the police in fighting crime in our country Nigeria. The aged long saying that no man is an island, entire of itself; gives credence to the need for the people of Nigeria to see cooperation with the police in the fight against crime in our society.

       Though even as we speak, such efforts made so far have been problematic and are yet to achieved a desire goal.

       The police not only been labeled by members of the public with an issue of corruption and biased in the discharge of their duties at various time but also had an internal banes of which this work will point out.

Statement of the Problem

       Yes it is a truism that mankind since creation had struggled with one way or the other a means of securing the necessities of life which resulted to peace and love, and on the other hand, wars, all to make a living, and further resulted to hatred and destruction of life and property. Hence the call for the Nigeria police, attached with supreme importance and with the primary responsibility of protection of life and property as provided for in the various laws of the federation and the Nigerian constitution of 1999.

       The Nigeria police force in the discharge of their duties since inception were implicated with numerous acts of abuse and corruption and thus lowered the prestige of the force. For example, a commission set up by the military government in 1967, posit that the despicable image of the police was in part attributable to bribery and corruption and till today corruption is one of the banes of the police force.

       Arising from the above as a theme of discussion various I.G.Ps set up various operational teams to check the activities of officers of the police force in order to avert the negative role of the police in our society to ensure greater competence, capacity and capability in crime prevention.

       I am basically here to point at the gap and the new grounds to be exploited in a cusory view so that if adhere to it, the police will win the approval and interest of the public and to be considerably superior in intelligence and ability in the discharge of their statutory duties.

Aims and Objectives of the Study

The study aims at highlighting the problems and issues of the police force as regards to the public on effective policing. It is aimed at putting light to my readers that if the problems and issues of the Nigeria police force is subjected to an empirical analysis and substantiated with facts of reality, it will be objectively observe by members of the public that all efforts made in the police to ensure greater accountability since inception have not yielded the desired results, so that this project work is intended to provoke further works by researchers in this same field.

Significance of the study

       The problems and issues of the Nigeria police force of the period under study had faced with series of internal and external problems which have resulted in public distrust.

       I must have admit that the opinion expressed in this work are mine and that they may not represent the official view of the government and our society at large, so that this study will not only add to already existing literature but it will contribute to our knowledge.

       And it will further serve as a guide to our leaders, individuals and the general public on how to go about it.

Finally, with a pragmatic analysis, this study will benefit students, scholars and Nigeria as a whole by serving as a reference point.

Literature Review

       A related documented literature is available for review in this study. And for the purpose of this work though banes of the Nigeria police force had already been stated above on a consory view. This work will show more light to members of the public and impact on cultural achievement in high standard of policing in our society if adhere to.

       Problems of Nigeria police force as we speak is not only very broad based but also confusing many past IGPs have come forward with different administrative strategies and each of them has tried to see the situation from his own view point, yet problems of the Nigerian police force has become complex because our social, economic and political problems of our society are increasingly becoming more and more complex with no solution in sight. With these, I said the problems of police in Nigeria is all about the form of government. Because once it is believed by the government that natural security is the best form of policing and is also suited to all conditions. And in the same vain, efforts made by various government of Nigeria were fought to make the police viable but till date its weakness are abound and it no longer commands a universal respect due to the unresolved problems and issues of the police since inception in 1930 and even as we speak.

       T.N. Tamuno in his book, the police in Nigeria is a federal government institution with a centralized command structure headed by the inspector general of police who reports directly to the president. Now if I may ask, does it mean National security to ensure administrative convenience in our society is devalued or the IGPS are not reporting their cases to the president of the federal republic of Nigeria?

       History teaches that a citizen’s loyalty to his state or community is directly proportional to the degree to which the latter is able to protect him. Taken in its broad sense, such protection has to do with the preservation of life and property of the people against every possible threat. In view of these, government usually rely on their police establishment except otherwise when the services of troops are required.

       As the eyes and ears of the government, the problems and issues in the Nigeria police force supposed to be given a speedy listening ears because without an efficient police institution or other suitable arrangement, the work of the legislative, executive and judiciary aspects of government would even be very difficult.

       Also worthy of note, corruption as one of the banes of the Nigerian Police, it has also become a general problem that is affecting all sectors of our society.

       In the words of Chinua Achebe, “The problem with Nigeria is simply a failure of leadership” that from 1960 and with the inception of 1930 to date the leaders of Nigeria had totally failed the country.

       Corruption according to Transparency International is the misuse of entrusted power for private gain.

       The police since inception in 1930 was faced with the problems of been inefficient, and largely preoccupied itself with bribery, corruption and biased in the discharge of their statutory duties. And I will adhere to this claim levied against the police by the public in the affirmative and make proposals on how to resolve it. Because these criticisms do not arise in a vacuum, and it must be understood within the context of the administrative and personnel challenges, legal impediments imposed by the Nigerian government is not only appropriate but also salutary.

       Considering from its 84 years of existence, it is right enough and not too very early to substantively judge its intention and ability to deliver justice within Nigeria.

       According to Thomas Paine;

Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.

Against this background, however this project is written to highlight problems of the Nigerian Police force and proffer solutions.

Scope of the Study

       As I have noted earlier, this project work will focus on the problems and issues of the Nigeria police force as regard to public view toward inefficiency and accountability and it is divided into five chapters.

       Chapter one will talk about the introductory aspect of the theme-problems and issues of the Nigeria police force, chapter two will discuss the functions of police in Nigeria. Chapter three will examine the police and the public in the discharge of their statutory duties with special references to few cases. Chapter four discuss the internal banes of insecure services of the police force while chapter five will be on conclusion/suggestion.

Research Methodology

       This research project is based mostly on secondary sources, the sources of information will be on the internet data textbooks, and journal as well as all available past work pertaining to police in Nigeria.

       The theoretical approach I shall use for the study is the historical and interpretative perspectives. So that this will enable me to trace the problem and the effort made so far in realization of desire goal in the performance of their statutory duties.

Limitation of the Study

       This research work is confronted with the constrains of having materials on this topic. On this ground, it had no alternative than to depend on the few available materials on this topic. Inadequate finance will also limit this project work.