CORRUPTION-NIGERIA: Police Anti-Graft Squad Has Limited Success

By Toye Olori Reprint | | Print |

Toye Olori

LAGOS, Feb 11 2004 (IPS) - Two years ago, Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police – Tafa Balogun – came into office promising to clamp down on corrupt police officials.

Concerned by the poor image of the force, Balogun set out an eight-point strategy in Apr. 2002 in a bid to revamp the department. This plan included the creation of a special squad with a country-wide mandate to target corrupt police.

Within three months, the team had arrested 234 officers for bribery and extortion – and recovered about 790 dollars.

All in all, 800 policemen around Nigeria have been dismissed for extortion since Balogun’s arrival – while another 65 have found themselves in court. Chris Alape, Force Public Relations Officer, says "We have decided to fight corruption in our organisation and nobody will stop the IG (Inspector-General) from ensuring that the cankerworm is brought to an end."

But, the arrests and dismissals do not appear to be making a real dent in the levels of police corruption in Lagos, as far as extortion of money from motorists is concerned. Lagos is the commercial centre of Nigeria.

Drivers who refuse to pay the tolls demanded by corrupt police are often delayed or beaten up. Some have even been shot dead by trigger-happy officers for refusing to pay the bribe – customarily set at 20 naira (almost 15 cents).

"They still collect money, even (though) some of them get arrested," says a minibus driver who gave his name simply as Taju. "They always say the other ones (who got arrested) are unlucky."

He added, "Apart from the mobile policemen who mount road blocks at night, traffic wardens have devised a way of collecting money through area boys (touts) at each bus stop. We pay for load (picking up passengers at the bus stops). Some of the area boys are those policemen (who were) dismissed from the force."

The National Union of Road Transport Workers has sent a delegation to Balogun to discuss the matter. But, certain analysts maintain that the only way of addressing the problem is by transforming the way Nigerian society as a whole views corruption.

Folu Olamiti, a social commentator, says "The war against corruption in the force will not be won only with punitive measures against officers and men found culpable. There is also the need for a change of attitude among members of the public who are inclined to commit offences and bribe their way out of trouble."

"Some of these drivers operate very rickety vehicles, some without (the) necessary vehicle documents and headlamps," he added.

Alape agrees: "We need the support of Nigerians…The menace is a societal thing which needs to be fought at all levels with good government policy."

The spokesman said authorities were trying to find innovative ways of improving the police force. These included a proposal for the establishment of a Nigerian Police Trust Fund, which was already before the National Assembly. The fund would help provide good accommodation and benefits for policemen – and it would be managed by non-governmental organisations and the administration.

Junior officers have told Police Affairs Minister Broderick Bozimo that police engage in extortion because of frustration at their low pay and poor living conditions.

Inspector Michael Attah, who has worked in the force for 28 years, says "Official barrack accommodation is virtually non-existent or nothing to write home about." Others have complained of a lack of insurance cover that is inappropriate given the dangerous nature of their work.

Nigeria’s police force presently consists of about 295,000 officers, although government says there are plans to raise this number to 577,600.

Before May 1999, when the present administration was inaugurated, junior policemen earned about 40 dollars a month. However, their salaries have since been increased to about 100 dollars.

Government has also approved almost 7.5 million dollars for the construction and development of police barracks across the country, as well as a five-year plan aimed at helping the force to perform its duties more effectively.