In view of reactions and growing agitations for amotekun, key stakeholders in policing matters in Nigeria is set examine critically if state’s are allowed to own a state police.

This is also coming at a time there is heated debate over the legality and feasibility of State and regional quasi-security platforms such as the Amotekun established by the South West Governors and plan by other Geopolitical Zones to set up a similar outfit.

These experts who will speak at the next edition of Nextier’s Development Discourse set to hold Thursday, 30th January 2020 with a focus on the community policing architecture of the Federal Government of Nigeria with Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) expected to lead in the discussion.

The discourse will be hosted by Dr. Ndubuisi Nwokolo, Senior Policy Lead, Nextier SPD and discussants will examine the Police Reform Bill and the provisions for community policing in the bill.

According to Nwokolo, issues to be locked at are: “Should states be allowed to own their police forces? How will the formal and informal structures work? If no, what are the alternative options? If yes, how should this work? How can the effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force be improved in Nigeria?”

“This edition of Nextier’s Development Discourse will focus on the proposed Community Policing architecture and agitations for state Police/Policing,” he added.

He said the panel discussants include experts in defence and national security: AIG Austin I. Iwar (rtd.); Senior Policy Adviser, Nigeria Policing Programme and Country Resident Representative, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Dr. Vladimir Kreck; Representative of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA). The session will be moderated by Patrick O. Okigbo III, Founder and Principal Partner, Nextier.

Attendance to the discourse is free and participants are to register at http://www.bit.ly/NextierDiscourse

Nextier SPD is a multi-competency, Africa-focused, public policy consulting firm that has been operating in Nigeria for seven years. The firm has provided leadership in conflict, security, peace and development issues, and works on a range of conflict issues in the Niger Delta, North East, and Middle Belt.