The Nigerian Police Force has announced a collaborative effort with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to establish Complaint Response Units in Enugu, Kano, and Rivers States.
Furthermore, the Lagos CRU is slated for expansion, with the specific goal of ensuring that citizens have easy access to justice and accountability.
In a statement, Acting Inspector General of Police Olukayode Egbetokun underscored that this step is a coordinated push to elevate the level of service delivery and expand the reach of the CRU.
Africa Today News, New York, has reported that the CRU has played a pivotal role in tackling public grievances and addressing issues such as police misconduct, human rights violations, and various other concerns in Nigeria.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated in a Monday announcement that, with the kind support and collaboration of the United Nations, the Inspector General is taking a significant step to decentralize and expand the CRU’s presence throughout the country, in accordance with the provisions of Section 131 of the Police Act 2020.
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Adejobi noted, ‘This expansion is a vital part of the IGP’s commitment to fostering a more transparent, accountable, and responsive policing system, and aligning with international best practices by significantly reducing the barriers faced by citizens when reporting issues, and will also expedite the resolution process.’
‘Consequently, the project would involve an outreach program whose primary objective is to develop effective strategies and modalities that will facilitate the expansion of CRU services to under-served rural communities and individuals with limited access. To achieve this, interactive Town Hall meetings in each of the four states which will bring together 20 relevant stakeholders from these states, as identified by the respective commands have been scheduled.’
‘These sessions will provide a platform for open discussions and collaborations aimed at improving community-police relations and service quality. The town hall meetings will be held in Kano State on October 23rd; Lagos on October 25th; Rivers on October 31st; and Enugu State on November 8th, 2023.’
‘The Inspector General of Police remains steadfast in his commitment to nurturing positive community relations and ensuring the delivery of top-notch policing services to members of the public with emphasis on addressing issues of professional misconduct and other forms of infractions.’
‘He urges residents of the concerned states to cooperate with the Nigeria Police to birth an efficient Complaint Response process in the affected states for improved policing while assuring that the CRU will promote trust, transparency, and accountability in the police force and enhance the government’s capacity to address human rights violations.’