A non-governmental organisation, Crux Environmental Right, Advocates and Development Foundation, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to intensify its efforts in safeguarding society and ensuring a safer environment for Nigerians, stressing that effective policing remains vital to environmental safety, public health and national security.
The organisation said Nigerian law is explicit that while the police are not designated environmental regulators, they bear a strong legal obligation to protect the environment indirectly through law enforcement, crime prevention and the maintenance of public safety.
In a statement jointly signed by its Country Director, Mercy Julius Iviakpellas, and Director of Communications, Eswati Luka Ikpi, Crux stated that the police have a constitutional responsibility not only to protect lives and property but also to support the enforcement of environmental laws, curb environmental crimes and maintain public order.
According to the group, environmental infractions such as illegal waste dumping, pollution, land degradation and other abuses often flourish in areas where law enforcement is weak, exposing communities to serious health and safety risks.
Crux cited Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates the Nigerian state to “protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air and land, forest and wildlife of Nigeria”.
It explained that, as an arm of the state, the Nigeria Police Force is legally required to support this constitutional mandate through the enforcement of laws and the maintenance of order.
The organisation also referenced Section 4 of the Police Act, 2020, which empowers the police to prevent and detect crime, protect lives and property, maintain law and order, and enforce all laws and regulations in Nigeria.
“Environmental offences are criminal offences under Nigerian law. Therefore, the police have the power and duty to arrest offenders, investigate environmental crimes and prosecute violators in collaboration with relevant agencies,” the statement said.
Crux identified environmental offences within the scope of lawful police action to include illegal waste dumping, air and water pollution, noise pollution, illegal mining and sand dredging, oil theft and pipeline vandalism, forest destruction, wildlife crimes, hazardous waste handling and other public health-related environmental hazards.
It further cited relevant legal frameworks supporting police intervention, including the NESREA Act, 2007, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act, the Criminal Code and Penal Code, as well as various state environmental protection laws.
While commending the police for ongoing reforms and security operations, the organisation said there was a need for more proactive engagement, particularly at the grassroots level.
Crux called for enhanced collaboration among the police, environmental agencies, civil society organisations and community leaders to effectively address environmental threats and promote sustainable practices.
The group also urged Nigerians to support law enforcement by reporting environmental abuses and cooperating with security agencies, noting that environmental protection and public safety are inseparable components of national development.
In the same statement, Crux commended the Nigeria Police Force for what it described as notable achievements recorded in 2025 under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, while condemning what it referred to as sustained smear campaigns and alleged attempts to force him out of office.
It said the police under Egbetokun recorded visible improvements in professionalism, discipline and internal reforms over the past year, despite what it described as persistent efforts to discredit the Force and its leadership.
