In a world where the badge symbolizes service and justice, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) stands as its antithesis—an institution corroded from within, fostering disillusionment, fear and corruption.
A recently viral video showing Chinese nationals distributing cash to uniformed Nigerian police officers—who queued to collect “gifts” while being recorded—has reignited discussions about professional integrity and accountability within the force.
For most Nigerians, this footage merely confirmed their daily reality: a system where citizens routinely transact with law enforcement as casually as with street vendors.
The incident, however, cast a long shadow beyond Nigeria’s borders, providing the international community a glimpse into the troubling state of Nigerian policing.
While some television commentators defended the actions, and the Chinese citizen at the center of the controversy explained the cash gifts aligned with “Chinese tradition” of appreciating good service, the implications remain deeply concerning.
I’ve learned that certain branches of the Nigerian Police are effectively available for hire – “cash and carry” – to those with financial means, functioning essentially as private security.
Anyone who finds it acceptable for their national police force to be lined up by foreigners in such a demeaning manner has lost their sense of propriety. No Nigerian would ever be permitted to treat Chinese police similarly.
While the video captures a tangible act of corruption, it raises deeper questions about the systemic failures within Nigerian policing.
What fundamental issues underlie this display of disgrace? And how might this force transform into one worthy of public trust and respect?
Root of the Systematic Failure
The recruitment process forms the foundation of any effective police force.
In Nigeria, stringent requirements for academic qualifications and rigorous background checks are routinely circumvented.
More than half of police personnel today have entered the force as a last resort, driven by economic necessity.
Most young Nigerians would rather remain unemployed than join the police. Parents rarely encourage their children to pursue police careers.
Consequently, the force often recruits those rejected by most other employers.
About a year ago, video footage captured Nigerian police officers in Oyo State soliciting bribes from a Dutch motorcyclist touring the country.
Reports later revealed the implicated officers, who struggled to communicate coherently, were special constables.
The police should be an institution that attracts some of society’s finest individuals, but instead, it predominantly appeals to job seekers with limited skills and prospects.
In many countries, police colleges maintain rigorous entry standards that prioritize psychological evaluations alongside academic achievements.
New recruits undergo extensive training designed to instill ethics, leadership, and community engagement—qualities conspicuously lacking among their Nigerian counterparts.
Even when desperate job seekers enter police colleges in Nigeria, they face poor nutrition, inhumane treatment and inadequate training.
Poor Training and Funding
Ineffective training perpetuates a culture of ignorance.
The NPF’s training academies, criticized for producing ill-equipped officers, lack resources to offer even a fraction of the training provided in comparable African nations.
“They show them how to hold a gun, but nothing about community relations, conflict resolution, or even proper ethics,” notes retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ali Amodu.
Insufficient funding compounds these problems, as evidenced by the embarrassing incident with Chinese expatriates.
Nigerian police typically rank at the bottom of budgetary priorities, lacking access to modern technology, adequate training materials, and basic infrastructure.
In developed nations, police forces benefit from comprehensive budgets supporting community outreach, modern equipment, patrol vehicles and officer well-being.
The Stain of Corruption
Within the Nigerian police, corruption functions as an unofficial rite of passage—an unspoken rule affecting both officers and civilians.
The common saying, “No one walks out of a police station without paying,” resonates deeply throughout society.
The corruption cycle becomes self-perpetuating: inadequate salaries drive officers toward illegal payments, further encouraging misconduct and fostering a culture of impunity.
Reflecting these systemic failures, communities view police officers not as guardians of law but as agents of exploitation. The uniform provides no reassurance; rather, it symbolizes oppression, as demonstrated by the 2020 #EndSARS protests, when young Nigerians demanded the dissolution of a notorious police unit that terrorized them.
Path to Modernization
Despite this bleak assessment, transformation remains possible if serious efforts are made to modernize and professionalize the force.
Meaningful change requires overhauling the recruitment process.
Implementing competitive selection based on academic qualifications and psychological evaluations would elevate candidate standards, ensuring only the most qualified individuals join law enforcement.
However, even with qualified personnel, professionalism issues will persist without adequate funding.
Police officers need competitive salaries and allowances to reduce corruption’s allure. If the police will hire the best, it will have to pay good salaries.
The government must prioritize reform by reallocating resources to provide police with modern training, equipment, financial and mental health support.
When these resources become available, transparent budgeting and expenditure processes can help rebuild public trust.
Nigeria’s police training methodology significantly contributes to institutional mediocrity. Creating a force that provides great service requires training, emphasizing the rule of law, civic responsibilities, and modern technology utilization.
Collaboration with international law enforcement agencies through joint exercises and knowledge exchange would allow NPF officers to adopt global best practices.
Community engagement initiatives are equally essential.
Transforming the force from an institution feared to one respected requires programs like town hall meetings and safety forums that foster dialogue between officers and citizens, allowing grievances to surface and be addressed.
Currently, Nigerian police officials face consequences only when misconduct becomes public.
Establishing independent bodies to investigate police misconduct would help shift the culture of impunity.
Ensuring officer accountability would deter corruption and abuse.
Above all, police need proper equipment and technology.
Deploying body cameras, community policing applications, advanced computing systems, real-time monitoring, and rapid response capabilities would enhance accountability and improve public interactions with law enforcement.
From Disillusionment to Trust
The Nigerian police’s predicament is multidimensional—requiring not merely superficial adjustments but a fundamental reexamination of values throughout the organization.
While competent officers undoubtedly exist within the ranks, institutional failures weigh heavily upon them.
As Nigerians view videos that provoke outrage rather than support, they yearn for a future where the uniform commands respect and integrity instead of contempt.
A society without faith in its law enforcement lacks essential service and justice.
Nigeria has the opportunity to transform its police force into a beacon of integrity.
Only through commitment, transparency, and renewed investment in its officers can the Nigerian Police Force become the institution citizens both need and deserve.
The only way to dispel the shadow of embarrassment now extending beyond national boundaries is through intelligent, systematic police reform.
