Review

Policing Nigeria: A case for partnership between formal and informal police institutions

*John Domingo Inyang (Ph.D) and Ubong Evans Abraham

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding Author's E-mail: drjohninyang@yahoo.com; Tel.: 08064016880

Accepted August 20, 2013

Abstract

This paper explores the Nigeria police system with particular reference to the formal and informal police institutions. It discusses the history of policing in Nigeria and the challenges affecting the one-agency police institution which is the conventional Nigeria Police Force. The inability of the NPF to control the rising spate of crime and the fact the institution is regarded as oppressive tool in the hands of the rich has given room for public distrust and subsequent debate on how to improve safety and security for foreigners and Nigerians within the country. The partnership theory of Dennis Rosenbaum is the theoretical framework that is adopted as a guide to this study. The paper recommends amongst others that the informal police methodology should be recognized by the government and given the necessary financial support to partner with the formal police force in order to enhance the process of providing security for Nigerians and foreigners residing and doing business in the country. Furthermore, the study has suggested that a code of conduct should be enacted by the legislative arm of government to assist regularized activities of the informal police sector who are often blamed for brutality during the exercise of their duties.

Keywords: Policing, Nigeria, Partnership, Formal, Informal, Police Institution