Supporting Good Governance in Law Enforcement in African Societies.: The Case of the Nigerian Police Force – Volume 1

Going by media reports and on the social media over the past many years; law enforcement has become a vital tool employed by the state to directly or indirectly violate the rights of its citizen in many African societies. The frontline law enforcement organisation in most countries is the police. The objective of this book is to assess law enforcement internal practices in Nigeria and suggest ways of developing and supporting good governance in its operations. This book is not about how Nigerian police can become like those in Western Europe, it is about how Nigerian police can operate within the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and Legislative Acts with all its national peculiarities. This book seeks to examine the challenges against good governance in the Nigerian Police force and make recommendations for change. This is a research-based book, hence its contents are not just that of the author but reflect the diversity of views by Nigerians and police officers interviewed. I believe it is not good enough to just criticize the police for their excesses; I want to know why they behave the way they do. The book provides the answers many have been seeking and suggests practical ways we can all support the police for better outcomes. The research conducted reveals not only how the people see the police, but more profoundly how the police see the police. This practical book concluded by making over forty recommendations on how good governance can be developed and strengthen within the police. Using both persuasive and dissuasive tools and techniques, these recommendations are wide ranging, balanced and implementable. This book is volume 1 of 2 Volumes. The research conducted for this book identified five overarching areas of challenges. This book analyses two of them. So the next volume will deal with the other three areas.