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By Chukwuma Umeorah
Residents of Lagos publicly demanded greater accountability from the police recently as the state Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, fielded questions on insecurity, funding gaps and public trust during a live televised town hall.
The interactive programme, aired on News Central, titled, “Is the Police Your Friend?” drew participation from viewers who called in and sent messages highlighting concerns over neighbourhood patrol visibility, traffic enforcement and cybercrime.
Responding to criticisms, Jimoh said the command remained committed to intelligence-driven policing and community collaboration. “While it is easy to criticise, policing requires being on the ground,” he said, stressing that effective law enforcement depends on actionable information and cooperation from residents.
However, panellists pointed to structural weaknesses within the system. Gbenga Ademujimi argued that, “chronic underfunding of the Nigeria Police Force is a major contributor to insecurity,” noting that despite a N969 billion allocation in 2024, many divisional offices still operated with minimal funds. The funding concerns, he suggested, affected logistics, mobility and response time.
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A retired Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the challenge extended beyond funding. “We must agree that we have a trust issue, and it is not just about the police, we don’t trust our government.” he said, adding that the police require reorientation and stronger accountability mechanisms.
Other guests, including actress Kate Henshaw, contributed to discussions around citizens’ experiences and expectations of law enforcement, as callers described instances of delayed response and inconsistent enforcement of traffic and criminal laws.
The session highlighted persistent public concerns about transparency, professionalism and operational capacity within the Nigeria Police Force, particularly in a state with complex security demands.
Jimoh concluded by assuring residents that the command would continue engaging the public and remain proactive in addressing emerging threats, including cyber-related crimes.
