Author: Gist Correspondent

The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and former Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Dr Adewole Adebayo, have called for stronger institutional support for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) while warning against the misuse of officers by political and economic elites.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day symposium organised by the NIIA in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force at the institute’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, Adebayo said the country’s elite often prefer the symbolic presence of police officers as escorts rather than investing in building an efficient and professional force.

The symposium, themed “The Nigerian Police and the Peace Process in Africa,” brought together security experts, diplomats and senior police officers to examine the role of policing in national and continental peacebuilding.

According to Adebayo, the performance of the police mirrors the overall state of national development. He argued that deficiencies within the NPF are a reflection of broader societal and political challenges rather than failures of the institution alone.

“If there is any aspect of the police we are dissatisfied with, it reflects the condition of our country,” he said, noting that since 1999, Nigeria has failed to prioritise adequate investment in policing, capacity building and institutional reform.

He stressed that peace at home remains a prerequisite for Nigeria’s effectiveness in international peacekeeping, adding that the police cannot function optimally in a politically tense and divided society. He also emphasised the need for closer cooperation between the police and local communities in addressing crime.

In his remarks, IGP Kayode Egbetokun described peacekeeping as both a moral obligation and a strategic necessity for Nigeria. He noted that in fragile political environments, Nigerian police officers play critical roles in supporting secure electoral processes and peaceful political transitions.

According to the IGP, these efforts help reinforce democracy as the foundation for sustainable peace, both within Nigeria and across the African continent.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, said the Nigeria Police Force ranks among the world’s leading contributors to peacekeeping operations, second only to the Indian Police in scale and experience.

Osaghae expressed confidence that with sustained support, improved capacity and enhanced preparedness, the NPF could become a model police force. He also disclosed plans for collaboration between the NIIA and the police leadership to establish an international centre for peacekeeping and policing in Nigeria.

The symposium is expected to generate policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the Nigeria Police Force’s role in domestic security and international peace operations.