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| NEWS > 11 December 2006 |
Other related articles:
Police, security agencies need
Federal policing and security agencies are ethically challenged from top to bottom, says the federal government's spending watchdog.
Aside from her scathing criticism of former football great Ron Stewart's tenure as federal ombudsman for prisoners -- which brought back memories of former privacy commissioner George Radwanski's fall from grace in 2003 -- Auditor General Sheila Fraser reveals doubts among the Mounties, border guards and prison guards that their co-workers would report spending abuses or even that they would be supported by their peers and bosses if they did.
... Read more
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 Article sourced from
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Vanguard - Apapa,Lagos,Nigeria
11 December 2006
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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''Police will continue to coll
LAGOS— IN SPITE of the measures put in place by the present Inspector General of Police Mr. Sunday Ehindero to completely clean the police of all relics of corruption and corrupt practices to serve the public with integrity; especially in the area of toll collection at check points, Lagosians are of the view that N20 notes collection from motorists have remained a tradition amongst the rank and file and may never find an end except a visibly structural change was effected in the Force.
Though the muffled notes may not better their lot, it does help offset some bills if collected in large quantity; City Scope was told. A motorist who identified himself as Adeola (surname withheld) told CityScope that motorists in Lagos have resigned to fate as it is the tradition to part with money at every checkpoints, the amount he said is dependent on the mentality of the leader of the particular team.
“Even though we are feeling the pains of having to part with our hard earned money to our policemen in the form of N20 or above, we do not have a choice because if we don’t, we incure more penalty. It is either your vehicle is impounded for flimsy excuse or you are charged for violent driving. But again, we are aware that they are not well paid, so, we tend to cooperate with them.”
Another respondent, a businessman who identified himself as Emeka Cyril though disagreed in part with Adeola, the commercial bus driver but consented to the fact that the police is not well remunerated. “Most often than not, the fault lies with the commercial bus driver because most of them do not have what it takes to drive on the road.
They are ‘‘trained’’ drivers and so do not have driver’s license. So, in other to cover their track, they quickly trust their folded fists to the policeman at checkpoints and the matter is settled. But again, everybody is aware that policemen in this country are not well taken care of; so, I feel they take solace in the toll collection and unnecessarily stop and check, knowing fully well that the motorist might be deficient in one thing or the other. And because you do not want to waste time and go to their stations, you soon begin to negotiate. And again, it is the shame that is associated with the whole exercise that is worrisome. It is important to do some thing about their welfare and of course, re-orientation of these men to save the image of the country because even the foreigners in the country already know that if you give the Nigeria police N20, you can go wherever you wish to.”
But an Isreali-trained private detective and security expert, Mr. Wole Madariola Olumide has a different opinion entirely. To him, the persistence in the collection of the popular but dehumanizing muffled N20 notes on the streets is a reflection of the Nigeria society. He said the trend will continue across the country except certain anomalies, starting from recruitment, college curriculum, posting, provisions of basic amenities, logistics and friendly environment within which to operate were given due consideration.
Mr. Madariola , also the Vice President of Nigeria Shooting Federation is of the opinion that the maxim of “to serve and protect with integrity” introduced by the present Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero immediately he came on board would have made positive impact in the lives of every policeman if these and other sundry issues that affect the welfare of his men were given priority attention other than mere rhetorics.
IG Ehindero, he said, meant good for the force when he assumed office, but the turn of events shortly afterwards have not allayed the fears of the average policeman. Commending men and officers of the force for their dedication to duty even in the face of nothing , Mr. Madariola said many police officers had lost their lives in the process.
His words: “in fairness, men and officers of the Nigeria police have lived up to their bidding. At the international level, the Nigerian police have not only proven that they are first among equals, they have shown the entire world that something good can actually come out of the black world.
However, back home, the police is most derided to say the least. It is however not a case of a prophet is not without honour in his home town, but an empirical case of perverse culture of extortion, especially the filth associated with the brazen collection of N20 notes from motorists.
We see our average policeman as enigma of corruption and corrupt practices; he is a social outcast in the Nigeria society. But we forget that they are victims of sheer neglect. These men and women have not committed any strange thing safe that they signed to protect lives and property even at the risk of their lives. Why are we questioning the wrong in a policeman collecting N20 naira on the streets with their present dehumanizing condition of service. Nigeria is the only country where background check up is undermined in recruiting future police officers. We have cases of ex-convicts, confirmed armed robbers who escaped from cells being recruited as policemen. What about the college curriculum and even the mentality of the instructors who sees their posting to the college as punishment?
It is wrong for a police man to influence his or her postings because more often than not, it results to high level of insubordination. It is common to find an ASP who was favoured in his posting to give directives to a CSP. This is unimaginable.
But of course, they have to influence their posting for economic reason. Why you may ask, because you post officers on out station duty without a visible provision of accommodation, allowances and other logistics to enhance his job and yet you do not want him to misuse the uniforms. There are instances when a police man have to part with money to their armorer for arms and ammunition released for them to perform national duties.
We are in a society where money and violence play vital roles in decision making; a situation which has regrettably placed the police as veritable tools in the hands of the elites and politicians to achieve their nefarious aims.
But in all these, the policemen remain the most derided, less remunerated and yet vital aspect of the society. Until we achieve the level of integrity and honour in this country, coupled with the right reform exercise which allows for opinion pool from relevant department via website, we shall continue to witness dismal police force in this country.”
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