The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, announced on Tuesday that the Nigeria Police Force would begin mandatory special training programs focused on policing ethics, professional conduct, and re-orientation for all officers starting from January 2025.
Speaking at the National Summit on Police Accountability in Abuja, Egbetokun revealed that the training programs would be compulsory for officers ranging from recruit constables to superintendents.
The summit, themed “The External, Internal, and Stakeholders’ Accountability Strategies and Mechanisms of the Nigeria Police Force/Services,” was organized by the Nigeria Police in partnership with Cleen Foundation and supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Egbetokun explained that the new training initiatives aim to enhance effective policing and accountability within the force. “The Nigeria Police Force is committed to enhancing the training and retraining of its officers,” he said.
In addition to ethics and conduct, the IGP highlighted that the force had partnered with the Society for Peace Study and Practice to train officers in alternative dispute resolution, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution mechanisms.
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Officers will also be required to attend refresher courses and other training programs sponsored by both zonal and international partners.
Mr. Peter Maduoma, Acting Executive Director of the Cleen Foundation, emphasized that effective policing goes beyond law enforcement.
He stressed the need for police officers to adhere to the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and respect for human rights.
Dr. Etannibi Alemika, the guest speaker at the summit, highlighted the importance of an independent police force to strengthen accountability and enhance the effectiveness of policing in Nigeria.