Journalists asked to promote awareness of Nigeria Police Act 2020

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A non-governmental organization dedicated to enhancing citizens’ participation and improving security governance in Nigeria West Africa, Partner West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), has tasked Journalists to promote awareness to the public on the new Nigeria Police Act 2020.
The Program Officer PWAN, Aisha Isa Yusuf gave this charge during a media town hall meeting on Human Rights, the Police Act 2020, and Regulations held in Kano.
Yusuf said PWAN with support from the UK Integrated Security Fund of the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) is implementing the project titled “Enhancing Police Governance: Deepening Understanding of the Police Act 2020 and Regulations Across Nigeria specifically in Kano, Plateau, Borno, Edo, Lagos, Enugu states, and the FCT.
She added that the project seeks to address critical gaps in the understanding and application of the Police Act 2020 and accompanying regulations within the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
According to her: “As part of the project’s objective, PWAN is organizing this Media Townhall Meeting on Human Rights, The Police Act 2020, And Regulations.
“The meeting seeks to educate the public and specifically the media organizations about the Police Act 2020, its impact on police-citizen interactions, and media reporting.
“This is an important initiative to ensure that both the public and the media understand their rights and responsibilities under the new law and the expected conduct of police officers. This meeting is an essential step to strengthening trust, transparency, and accountability between law enforcement and the community.
“Today’s town hall meeting serves as an opportunity for us to unpack the critical provisions of the Police Act 2020 and its innovations.
“Explore the role of the media in fostering responsible and rights-based reporting on sensitive issues like arrests, stop-and-search, and profiling as well as discuss actionable strategies to bridge gaps in understanding and implementation of the Act across Nigeria.
“As we proceed, I encourage you all to actively engage in the discussions and share your perspectives. I am confident that the insights and knowledge gained here will empower us all to head in the right direction.
“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our funder, the UK Integrated Security Fund of the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), for their partnership and support of this initiative.”
A Facilitator, Barrister Sani Ammani, noted that the Police Act 2020 /regulation highlighted the content of the new reforms in the police act.
He urged Journalists to sensitize the public on the new Nigeria police act in terms of human rights and police functions, investigation and arrest, procedures on police conducting search, bail, and release of arrested suspects, discrimination in any form, profiling of citizens by the Police, funding and recruitment of police officers, enlighten suspects not to pay bribe and others.
Similarly, Ms. Maryam Rabi’u, in her presentation on “Role of media in promoting awareness of Nigeria Police Act 2020”, urged Nigerian Journalists to promote awareness and ensure the effective implementation of the Nigeria Police Act through campaigns, informing the public about the provisions of the Police Act, emphasizing rights, duties, and the reforms it introduces to enhance police accountability and community policing.
She further urged them to Create a platform for citizens to report their experiences with the police, fostering dialogue between the community and law enforcement agencies and also amplifying the narrative surrounding police reforms, ensuring that citizens understand the changes and advocate for the ongoing amendment, adjustments to align police practices with community standards.
Some of the participants who were panelists appreciated PWAN for the training and recommended that police should enlighten and retrain police personnel; police should insist on physical, mental, and educational qualifications before recruitment; newly recruited police officers should have a copy of the new Nigeria police act while on training.