Nigeria must look beyond criticism of the police and address issues of funding, welfare and public support if it wants to build a professional and effective security institution, Lanre Olagunju, Editor of CheckClimate.Africa, has argued.

In an article titled The Police We Want and the Police We Have, Olagunju said Nigerians often focus on cases of misconduct, poor response, weak investigations and security failures, but pay less attention to the conditions required to build the kind of police force they expect.

He argued that while citizens have legitimate demands for accountability and professionalism from the Nigeria Police Force, those expectations must be matched with investments in training, equipment, welfare and institutional support.

Olagunju highlighted the leadership approach of Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, noting efforts towards intelligence-led policing, accountability and improved operational effectiveness.

He pointed to the establishment of specialised crime response structures, disciplinary actions against erring officers and the promotion of more than 17,000 junior officers as examples of attempts to improve morale and professionalism within the force.

According to him, the measures reflect an effort to balance discipline with motivation by addressing misconduct while recognising officers who demonstrate commitment to their duties.

However, Olagunju said the challenges facing the police go beyond leadership and require broader national attention.

He noted that the police are expected to secure a country of more than 200 million people despite challenges including limited resources, inadequate equipment, ageing infrastructure and welfare concerns.

He argued that Nigeria’s demand for a police force comparable with those in developed countries must be accompanied by similar commitment to investment in policing.

Olagunju questioned whether members of Nigeria’s political and economic elite would encourage their children, including those educated at some of the world’s leading institutions, to pursue careers in the police force.

He said the question reflects a wider issue about how society views policing as a profession, arguing that countries with respected police institutions achieved that status through investments in recruitment, training, technology, welfare and public trust.

The writer, however, stressed that support for the police should not replace accountability.

He said officers who abuse their powers must face sanctions, while corruption and human rights violations must continue to be addressed.

According to him, effective policing depends on a combination of accountability, resources, public cooperation and sustained reforms.

Olagunju said Nigeria cannot afford to abandon the institution responsible for maintaining internal security, adding that tackling challenges such as kidnapping, insurgency, organised crime and communal violence requires a functional police service supported by government and citizens.

He concluded that the police force Nigerians want cannot emerge without collective responsibility from the government, communities and the public.