The Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode A. Egbetokun, has said that Nigeria can pave the way for a more stable, prosperous, and inclusive future for all its citizens by addressing the root causes of internal security challenges and mitigating their consequences.
He made the statement while delivering the first Distinguished Personality Lecture of the TETFUND Centre of Excellence in Multidisciplinary Studies at the University of Ibadan.
The lecture was entitled “The Nigerian Police Force and the Management of Internal Security.”
Dr. Egbetokun enumerated the consequences of internal security challenges as human rights violation and humanitarian crisis; socioeconomic disruption and poverty; political instability and governance crisis; displacement and refugee crisis; and economic losses and development setbacks.
He said that internal security challenges in Nigeria have profound and multifaceted consequences that impact human rights, socioeconomic development, political stability, and governance effectiveness.
He spoke further that addressing these consequences requires comprehensive strategies that prioritise peace building, conflict resolution, humanitarian assistance, and sustainable development.
Dr. Egbetokun also disclosed that the NPF had adopted three strategic policing methods to counter security challenges in Nigeria since his assumption of office.
He listed the strategies as confrontation, suppression, and accommodation.
He said his tenure had keyed into the accommodating policing model as a deliberate policy to conform to the tenets and global standard of democratic policing in Nigeria.
He added that the NPF works closely with the military and other security agencies to coordinate efforts and ensure a unified response to the complex security challenges of violent crimes, non-violent offences, and security challenges such as terrorism, insurgency, and communal violence.
According to the IGP, while progress has been made in implementing reforms, challenges and implementation gaps persist, requiring sustained political commitment, institutional reforms, and stakeholders’ engagement to drive meaningful change within the NPF itself.
Dr. Egbetokun said that despite the numerous challenges faced by the NPF in managing internal security during crises, there have been notable achievements that demonstrate the potential and resilience of the Force.
He said the NPF has successfully executed various operations to combat terrorism, armed robbery, and kidnapping, thereby ensuring the safety of many communities.
He noted that the Force has also made strides in adopting modern technology and intelligence-gathering techniques, which have improved its ability to respond swiftly and effectively to security threats.
The IGP added that the implementation of community policing initiatives has fostered better collaboration between the Police and local communities, enhancing trust and cooperation.
He stated further that these achievements, though often overshadowed by the larger systemic issues, highlight the capacity of the NPF to positively impact internal security when adequately supported and reformed.
Dr. Egbetokun, therefore, urged the Nigerian government to sustain its commitment to ongoing reforms within the NPF, and allocate sufficient budgetary resources to the police force to address equipment needs, improve infrastructure, and enhance training programmes.
He also recommended that community policing initiatives should be expanded and institutionalised across all states in Nigeria, and public awareness campaigns and civil education initiatives conducted to educate citizens about their rights and responsibilities.
The IGP also advised the Nigerian government to take a decisive action to combat corruption and impunity within the NPF.
He said that by implementing these recommendations, Nigeria can strengthen its internal security apparatus, enhance public safety, and promote sustainable peace and development across the country.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, in his welcome address, said that the University of Ibadan is always very careful in giving platforms to people to speak at her public lectures, saying due diligence is always made in selecting people of integrity and knowledge, as well as those who have valid contributions to national discourse in a bid to find enduring solutions to national challenges.
Professor Adebowale said the University considered Dr. Egbetokun worthy to deliver the First Personality Lecture of the TETFUND Centre of Excellence for Multidisciplinary Studies.
He noted that at the centre of the management of internal security is the NPF, and as such, the man at the helm of affairs is in the best position to speak on the topic of the Lecture.
The Acting Director of the TETFUND Centre of Excellence in Multidisciplinary Studies, Dr. Benjamin A. Aluko said the Centre is one of the 12 Centres of Excellence established by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund in Nigerian universities in November 2020.
He said the vision of the Centre is to expand the frontiers of knowledge in Early Warning Systems and Security Management for sustainable peace and development of the Nigerian state in particular and the African continent in general.
The official opening of the Professor Isaac Olawale Albert Library at the Department of Peace, Security and Humanitarian Studies was performed immediately after the lecture.
