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Former Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has called for greater accountability within the Nigeria Police Force, warning that funding challenges alone cannot fix the deep-rooted issues facing the institution.
Speaking during a roundtable discussion on A Place At The Table, a show on News Central TV, Owoseni stressed the need for internal reforms and a shift in mindset. “Even if you talk of funding, we must reorientate our people. We must build their capacity,” he said.
Owoseni maintained that beyond structural and financial constraints, accountability must be central to reform efforts. “The police must subject itself to accountability,” he said.
He also pointed to a broader crisis of confidence in public institutions. “We must agree that we have a trust issue, and it is not just against the police, about the government. We don’t trust our government, so that is the problem,” he noted.
He criticised the country’s budgeting framework, describing it as ineffective and disconnected from operational realities.
“A system where you are going to write budget is called jacketed budget, envelope budget. It is not a result-based budget. It is not targeted to the needs of the police. They will just give you an envelope,” he stated.
According to him, such limitations hinder meaningful improvements in policing. “You must not pass this. You must not pass that,” he added, noting that although he left the force years ago, systemic issues may still persist.
Calling for collective responsibility, Owoseni urged both the police and the public to acknowledge the problem and work towards rebuilding trust. “So the police must accept that, we must accept that, we need reorientation,” he said.
