The Office of the Inspector General of police [IGP] in Nigeria, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], is ready to set up offices of the Complaints Response Unit in Enugu State, Kano State, and Rivers State, and to expand the office of the CRU in Lagos State, with the aim of increasing transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in the policing system.
According to a statement from Force ACP, PRO Adejobi Muyiwa said the establishment of the offices of the CRU will significantly reduce the obstacles that citizens face when reporting issues and will also speed up the resolution process.
The IGP said that the expansion of the CRU’s office in Lagos State is a major step towards decentralisation and expansion of its presence in the country, in line with section 131 of the police law of 2020. He also noted that the UNODC’s generous support and cooperation will enable the IGP to bring the system closer to international best practices.
News.ng sourced that the project will include an outreach programme whose main goal is to create effective strategies and methods to expand CRU services to underserved rural communities and people with limited access.
The Force PRO said that interactive Town Hall meetings will be held in each state to bring together 20 stakeholders from those states, as determined by the respective commands.
“These sessions will provide an opportunity for open dialogue and cooperation to improve community-police relationships and service quality,” the PRO said.
Kano State will host the town hall meeting on October 23rd, Lagos, October 25th, Rivers, October 31st, and Enugu State, November 8, 2023.
According to the PRO, the Complaints Response Unit (CRU) has been instrumental in responding to public grievances and concerns about police misconduct, violations of human rights, and other matters in Nigeria.
