The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, announced on Tuesday that the Nigeria Police Force will begin new mandatory training courses for all officers, starting in January 2025.
The courses will focus on policing ethics, professional conduct, and re-orientation.
Egbetokun made the announcement at the National Summit on Police Accountability in Abuja.
The summit was organized by the Police in partnership with Cleen Foundation and supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
He explained that the new training programs would be required for all officers, from recruit constables to superintendents, in order to improve the effectiveness of policing and accountability in Nigeria.
“These programmes are mandatory for all officers starting January 2025,” Egbetokun said.
The IGP emphasized that the police force is committed to continuously improving the training and retraining of its officers. He added that the police had partnered with the Society for Peace Study and Practice to train officers in areas such as alternative dispute resolution, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution.
Egbetokun also stated that officers will be required to attend refresher courses and other training programs organized by zonal and international partners.
Acting Executive Director of Cleen Foundation, Mr. Peter Maduoma, highlighted that effective policing involves more than just enforcing laws. He stressed the importance of police officers upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and respect for human rights.
The guest speaker at the summit, Dr. Etannibi Alemika, emphasized the need for an independent police force to ensure better accountability and more effective policing.
