POLICING IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS

Ofili, Frederick Iwendi

Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Email: Ofili112002@yahoo.com

Abstract: The cardinal responsibility of any government all over the world is the maintenance of law and order in the country. Without law and order, there will be no good governance. Therefore, good governance is symbiotically tied to the maintenance of law and order. That explains why the issue of policing is crucial and of vital interest to all government. The Nigerian government is no exception. The arm of government saddled with that responsibility is the Police force. According to Robert Reiner (1993) “the police are the specialist carriers of the state’s bedrock power: the monopoly of legitimate use of force”. It has the monopoly of the legitimate use of force in that for it to effectively discharge this statutory responsibility of law enforcement and protection, it is expedient on her to maintain this monopoly. It is also expedient for proper regulation and accountability. However, in the discharge of this crucial and vital responsibility of the maintenance of law and order in the country, the Police is most often times confronted with challenges and constraints. Though challenges abound, however the future appears promising if certain remedial measures such as Police capacity building, improved remuneration/ funding, improved Public-Police relations etc. are put in place.