The Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) says low awareness about the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) poses a significant challenge to its effectiveness in addressing misconduct by police officers.
NOPRIN said this during the launch of the Needs Assessment Report on Strengthening the Outreach and Operations of the Lagos State Police Command Complaint Response Unit (CRU) on Thursday in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Programme Officer, NOPRIN Foundation, Ms Precious Osinaku, said that there was a substantial gap in public awareness of the CRU’s role and functions.
“Many Lagosians remain unaware of how to access the CRU and the potential impact of their engagement.
“This underscores the need for a robust public sensitisation campaign leveraging various media platforms, particularly social media and community outreach programmes,”‘ she said
According to her, the pivotal initiative represents a significant step toward advancing police accountability and fostering trust between law enforcement agencies and the public.
“CRU serves as a critical mechanism for addressing grievances, promoting transparency, and ensuring the protection of human rights within the police system.
“The newly launched report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Lagos State CRU’s current operations, identifies gaps, and offers actionable recommendations for improvement, ” she said.
Osinaku listed some of the key highlights of the Needs Assessment Report to include economic challenge, community engagement, recommendations and capacity development.
She said the report also included: “Detailed insights into the operational, structural, and procedural limitations hindering the Lagos State CRU’s effectiveness.
“It spells out findings on public awareness and accessibility of the CRU, emphasising the need for more awareness, and inclusive and responsive service delivery.
“It also contains strategic proposals to enhance structural and procedural operations resource allocation, capacity building, and technology integration to improve transparency and efficiency.
“The frameworks for training and equipping CRU officers to better handle complaints and communicate with the public are also enunciated.”
She said that the goals of the programme were to strengthen the accountability of the Lagos State Police Command and enhance public trust and cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
She said its goal was also to promote a human rights-centered approach to policing in Lagos State.
According to her, the report underscores NOPRIN commitment to building a policing system that is accountable, transparent, and aligns with democratic principles.
“The CRU has the potential to bridge the gap between the police and the public, but it requires the support, resources, and reforms outlined in this report to fulfill its mandate effectively,” she said.
Osinaku said that the Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS) played an instrumental role in supporting this initiative.
“AGFCS’ commitment to safeguarding civic freedom and enhancing democratic governance has been invaluable in shaping the outcomes of this project.
“I urge all stakeholders, including the National Assembly, the Police Service Commission, Ministry of Police Affairs, Inspector-General of Police, civil society organisations, and the general public, to collaborate in implementing the report’s recommendations.
“Together, we can ensure that the CRU becomes a model of accountability and responsiveness in Nigeria’s policing system,” she said.
Earlier in his keynote address, the Executive Director, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, said that the CRU was established in November 2015 to receive complaints about police misconduct.
“The CRU serves as a vital interface between the public and the police, designed to address complaints, ” he said.
Nwanguma said that police roles were vital in the society and their most important responsibility was to protect lives and property.
According to him, lack of accountability destroys public trust.
He urged the government to address the welfare of the police, so that abuses could reduce.
He said that the CRU should be independent, and not under the office of the Police Public Relations Officer so as to perform effectively.