Police Deepen Accountability Drive, Seek Stronger Media Partnership to Enhance Complaint Resolution
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Nigeria Police Force has reaffirmed its commitment to improving transparency, accountability and public trust with plans to strengthen its Complaint Response Unit (CRU), while calling for closer collaboration with the media to enhance public awareness of ongoing police reforms.
The renewed commitment was disclosed by the newly appointed Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem, during a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, on Friday, where he outlined key initiatives aimed at making the Force more responsive to citizens’ complaints and more accessible through effective media engagement.
Describing the visit as part of his familiarisation tour, CSP Edem highlighted the Complaint Response Unit as one of the Nigeria Police Force’s foremost internal accountability mechanisms, operating round-the-clock to receive, monitor and resolve complaints bordering on professional misconduct, extortion, harassment, abuse of office and human rights violations by police personnel across the country.
According to him, the Force is introducing significant improvements to the CRU to ensure quicker response times, enhanced complaint tracking and greater transparency in the resolution process.
He explained that the reforms align with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police to build a more accountable, citizen-focused and professional police institution.
“The Complaint Response Unit remains a vital platform for ensuring accountability within the Nigeria Police Force. We are strengthening its operations to improve efficiency, transparency and public confidence in the complaint resolution process,” Edem said.
The Force spokesman also announced plans to convene a media parley involving the Police Zone 7 Command and journalists, noting that the initiative would provide a platform for greater interaction between the police and the media, while enabling journalists to gain first-hand understanding of ongoing institutional reforms.
Emphasising the importance of the media in promoting public confidence, Edem said, “Journalists are part of the police family,” adding that objective and informed reporting would not only keep citizens well informed but also contribute meaningfully to institutional accountability and sustainable police reforms.
Responding, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, welcomed the planned enhancement of the Complaint Response Unit and commended CSP Edem for his open and engaging leadership style.
She reaffirmed the council’s commitment to partnering with the Nigeria Police Force in promoting responsible journalism, while assuring that journalists would continue to spotlight citizens’ complaints and monitor developments surrounding the CRU to ensure issues raised receive adequate public attention and follow-up.
The renewed focus on strengthening the Complaint Response Unit is expected to further position the media as a critical partner in deepening public accountability by increasing awareness of complaint channels, tracking institutional responses and encouraging reforms that strengthen public confidence in policing across Nigeria.
