OPEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP WEEK 2021

We participated as Panelist at the Citizens-Police dialogue on rebuilding trust in Nigeria’s Policing System at the Open Government Partnership Week 2021.

The focus of the discussion was on whether the Nigerian Police Force is a Friend to the Citizens – The current state of the Police, Police Brutality, #EndSARS protests, and remedial actions to reform the Police.

In our contribution to the panel discussion and responding to questions from the moderator and audience, we reiterated our activity during and post the EndSARS protests, bailing arrested persons for free.

On how to rebuild trust in the Nigerian Policing system, we made an example of the Askari Wey Correct project as a way to encourage officers that are doing well and to also to show good examples to the bad eggs to engender attitudinal change. 

We equally made a case for continuous training and funding support for the police in order for them to do more than they are doing. The need to see the Police as our friend can also not be overemphasized.

Also sitting on the panel were DIG Sanusi Lemu (representing the IGP), Rommy Mom Commissioner for Human Rights at the Police Service Commission, Benson Olugbo of CLEEN Foundation, Halilu Adamu of National Human Rights Commission, and Dr. Anne Nzegwu, the National Coordinator of OGP.