Policing structure and insecurity in Nigeria's federal system
Loading...
Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Political science,Obafemi Awolowo University
Abstract
This study appraised the nature of centralised policing in Nigeria’s federal system and ascertained the effect of ethno-cultural and religious diversities on insecurity in the country. It also examined the dispute between levels of government over control of the police as well as its possible influence on insecurity, and determined the prospects of a noncentralised policing system in Nigeria. These were with a view to providing information on police reforms that could enhance law and order maintenance as well as crime fighting in a federal system like Nigeria.
The study made use of primary and secondary sources of data collection. Primary data were sourced from twenty-one respondents purposively selected for semi-structured interviews from the academia, political actors and security personnel. These selections were based on geo-political spread as well as expertise, knowledge of, and involvement in issues relating to policing, security and the federal system. Three senior academics each were selected; from the Peace and Conflict Studies programme of the University of Ibadan, Department of Political Science and Administrative Studies of the University of Port Harcourt and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos. The selection also included five serving or retired senior security officials from among the nation’s pool of security personnel. The remaining six respondents were selected from relevant past and present political office holders across different levels of government. Tape recorder device was used and note-taking utilised as back up during the interview. Secondary data were sourced from books, journals, the Internet, magazines, government publications, publications by organisations and newspapers. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and content analyses.
The results showed that the politicisation of ethno-religious differences by the political class, perpetual state incapacity and the struggle for socio-economic and political resources by various groups triggered violent conflicts and insecurity. The results also showed that personalisation of political offices to attain political objectives by political actors, especially political office holders, had often times resulted into unending controversies that heated up the polity, thus precipitating or exacerbating insecurity. The results further revealed that centralised police had not been effective in Nigeria due mainly to factors internal and external to the police and less on ownership. Finally, the results affirmed that for factors that are political, economic, operational, psycho-social and societal, state police would not address Nigeria’s security crisis.
The study concluded that a Police Force imbued with strict adherence to professionalism, reduced political influence and control, and less emphasis on political ownership, was important in enhancing law and order maintenance in Nigeria.
Description
xiv, 227p
Keywords
Insecurity, Police force, Economic, Ethno-cultural
Citation
Odeyemi,T.I (2016). Policing structure and insecurity in Nigeria's federal system. Obafemi Awolowo University