The ancient city of Ibadan is abuzz with activity today as stakeholders from the policing and security sector converge for a two-day National Retreat on “Civilian Oversight in Nigeria.” The retreat is organized by the Police Service Commission and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to a statement issued on Monday by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations, the retreat, set to be declared open on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, by the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, will feature eight insightful sessions covering a range of topics related to policing and oversight.
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Stakeholders in the policing and security sector, including the leadership of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the National Security Adviser, are attending the retreat. Also present are officials from the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Human Rights Commission. The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Annet Gunther, and representatives from the Nigeria Union of Journalists and civil society organizations are also in attendance.
Speaking on the event, the Convener of the Retreat and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, said, “The program will bring all the stakeholders in the policing sector together to brainstorm on the best possible ways to manage policing and oversight in Nigeria for better results.”
The two-day program features eight sessions, starting with an examination of policing and oversight practices and challenges. Prof. Edoba Bright Omoregie, a senior advocate of Nigeria, will present a keynote paper, followed by discussions led by Babatunde Dada, Hon. Abubakar Makki Yalleman, and Mrs. Chigozirim Okoro.
Subsequent sessions will cover the Police Act 2020, national, state, and local policing plans, civilian oversight, and police detention conditions. The retreat aims to improve relationships among oversight bodies and lay the groundwork for a National Policing Plan.
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Underscoring the significance of the event, Dr. Arase emphasized, “The outcome will obviously turn around and improve the relationships in the chain of oversight bodies in the country and also form a groundwork for operationalization of a National Policing Plan.”
As delegates continue to arrive in Ibadan, anticipation builds for the insightful discussions and potential solutions that may emerge from this gathering of key players in Nigeria’s policing and security landscape.
