Adebayo canvasses bold investment in policing to guarantee peace, credibility abroad

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, on Monday said the Nigerian Police Force reflects the nation’s development, history and future, urging greater investment in policing to guarantee peace at home and credibility abroad.

Adebayo made the remarks in Lagos at a two-day symposium titled “The Nigeria Police Force and the Peace Process in Africa,” organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). The event drew key security and policy leaders, including the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Emmanuel Osaghae.

In his address, Adebayo described the police as a mirror of society, saying “The Nigerian police is like a shadow following Nigeria. If there is any aspect of policing you are not satisfied with, it is simply a reflection of our life at a particular time. To have a better police, we must have a better society, because the police is a reflection of what the society is”.

Adebayo stressed that effective policing requires peace, sound legislation, strong community relations and sustained capacity building, adding “You cannot praise the police in speeches and budget poorly for them. Forensics, helicopters and investigations cost billions. If you want the police of your dreams, send your best and most courageous children to the force”.

Earlier, Prof. Osaghae delivered a historical overview of Nigeria’s global peacekeeping record, describing the Nigerian Police Force as one of the most experienced peacekeeping institutions worldwide.

From Congo in 1960 to Kosovo, East Timor, Somalia, Sudan and Haiti, he said Nigerian officers have played significant roles, often rising to leadership positions in United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS missions.

He praised IGP Egbetokun for expanding Nigeria’s international policing footprint and announced plans to establish an International Centre for Peacekeeping in partnership with the Police Force. While acknowledging domestic challenges, he said the force has recorded notable improvements in training and professionalism over the past two decades.

In his keynote address, IGP Egbetokun reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to multilateral peacekeeping, revealing that more than 12,000 Nigerian police officers have served in missions across several continents under the UN, AU and regional bodies.

“The true impact of peacekeeping is not always captured in reports. It is seen when schools reopen, markets return and public trust is restored,” he said.