General
BPRS Suggests Effective Bail System to Nigeria Police
By Dipo Olowookere
Ways to effectively manage internal complaints mechanism and the process for obtaining bail at police stations across the country have been recommended to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris.
The suggestions were contained in a report presented by the Acting Director General of Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPRS), Mr D.I Arabi, recently.
Mr Arabi hinted that the exercise was conducted between October 2017 to February 2018 across the six geo-political zones and FCT, selecting one state each from the zones in line with the approval of the police chief given earlier in September 2017, for BPSR request to conduct two research studies on the Nigeria Police Force.
The studies were: Institutional Assessment of the Police internal complaints mechanism; and mapping the process of obtaining bail at the Nigeria police stations.
The assessments were carried out in six States Police Command Formations selected from the Zones, they include: Akwa-Ibom, Borno, Edo, Enugu, Kano and Lagos; and the FCT.
According to the BPSR chief, the main objective of the study was to identity the challenges that have hindered the effectiveness of the police internal complaints mechanism; to identify the specific barriers and bottle necks in the bail process that hampers the effectiveness and efficiency of the process and to provide evidence based recommendations for reforms to improve efficiency in the internal complaints mechanism and the bail process.
For an effective assessment, BPSR adopted some approaches which include meetings and interviews with senior police officers at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, the State Commissioners of Police and other police personnel that were available at the selected States Police Commands and Formations in those zones.
Other approaches were the group discussions with diverse stakeholders, enabling them to collate diverse perspectives on the issues at stake. The studies identified gaps and also designed scenarios for improvements in structure, manpower deployment and the bail process mapping.
The highlight of the research studies was the presentation of the three key findings and the recommendations in each of the report. The first report explains clearly that there was no strategic plan or a strategic planning process that guides the activities of the force and the operations of the internal complaints mechanism towards attaining its mandate, consequently, work plans are either non-existent or are not linked to long term operational and strategic goals.
Among other findings are the PCB complaints desks that are poorly manned in terms of staffing and skills, especially in Kano where there was a great challenge on skills sets. There is also lack of requisite skills among majority of police officers manning public complaints desks at all levels.
Mr Arabi said that training the officers will equip them with intelligence gathering, data collection and analysis and human rights observances in order to display high sense of human relations and mediations.
Speaking on the bail process, Mr Arabi emphasized the need for uniform guidelines and standard operating procedure which according to him will minimize if not remove all forms of hindrances that had hitherto exposed the bail process to abuses.
On the recommendations; he emphasized that the NPF should standardize the operating procedure which will remove all forms of hindrances that had exposed the bail process to abuses.
The acting DG also advocated that the NPF should have standardized practices regarding arrest, detention and bail of suspects in the 36 states in the country and the FCT.
This would help design a functional referral system for civil cases between police and conflicts resolution agents such as courts and traditional rulers. He further reiterated the need for funding and resourcing mechanism for policing and police welfare. This will enable the Force to develop and implement strategies for creating awareness about the internal complaints mechanism.
According to the DG, if the recommendations are faithfully implemented, the NPF will become more effective and the IGP would have succeeded in putting in place an appropriate system for the Force which would further strengthen basic management capacity within the Nigeria Police Force.
Mr Arabi thanked Mr Idris for the opportunity afforded BPSR on this remarkable exercise and equally expressed profound gratitude to the Commissioners of Police in Akwa-Ibom, Borno, Edo, Enugu, Kano and Lagos for their diligence and support.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has secured a £746 million financing agreement with the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) that will deliver the most ambitious modernisation of Nigeria’s seaport infrastructure in nearly half a century, transforming the country’s principal maritime gateways and repositioning its port system for global competitiveness.
The fund was facilitated by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, according to the minister’s Special Adviser, Mr Bolaji Akinola.
The historic financing arrangement, secured with the backing of UKEF, will fund the comprehensive modernisation and upgrade of the Lagos Port Complex Apapa, popularly known as Apapa Port, and the Tin Can Island Port Complex in Lagos.
The two ports handle more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s imports and exports, and serve as the central arteries of the nation’s maritime trade.
He noted that the landmark financing agreement will be formally signed during the high-profile state visit of President Bola Tinubu to London on March 18 and 19, 2026, signalling a deepening of strategic economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom while opening a new chapter in Nigeria’s maritime development.
According to Mr Akinola, the minister described the financing package as a transformative milestone for the country’s port system, noting that the scale and scope of the modernisation project mark the first comprehensive overhaul of the facilities since their establishment.
“The Lagos Port Complex Apapa, established in 1913, has for more than a century remained Nigeria’s oldest and busiest seaport, serving as the gateway for a vast proportion of the nation’s imports and exports.
“The Tin Can Island Port Complex was later developed to complement Apapa and was officially commissioned on 14 October 1977.
“Despite their strategic importance, neither facility has experienced a modernisation programme of this magnitude, making the initiative the most significant port upgrade undertaken by the Federal Government in almost fifty years.”
Mr Oyetola stressed that the project forms a central pillar of the Federal Government’s broader agenda to unlock the vast economic potential of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy while restoring efficiency and global competitiveness to the country’s maritime infrastructure.
“This financing agreement represents a defining moment for Nigeria’s maritime sector. For decades, Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port have borne the weight of our national trade, yet their infrastructure has not kept pace with the scale and complexity of modern global shipping.
What we are set to do is not merely an upgrade, but a comprehensive transformation that will align our ports with international best practice.
“Through this historic collaboration with the United Kingdom, we are laying the groundwork for a new era in the management and operation of Nigerian ports. Modern infrastructure supported by digitalised and automated processes will significantly enhance efficiency, transparency and operational reliability. Our objective is clear: to create a port system that is modern, competitive and capable of serving as a strategic maritime hub for West and Central Africa.”
He said that the modernisation programme will introduce advanced cargo-handling infrastructure, expanded port capacity and integrated digital systems designed to eliminate many of the operational bottlenecks that have historically slowed cargo movement through Nigeria’s busiest ports.
Mr Oyetola also noted that once completed, the reforms will fundamentally reshape the operational landscape of Nigeria’s maritime gateways. Vessel turnaround times are expected to decline significantly, while cargo dwell times within the ports will be sharply reduced as automated systems replace paper-based procedures and outdated manual processes.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Thursday, March 19, and Friday, March 20, 2026, have been declared as public holidays by the federal government to mark Eid-ul-Fitr.
A statement on Tuesday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, urged Muslims to sustain the virtues of love, generosity, peace, tolerance, and sacrifice emphasised during the holy month of Ramadan.
The work-free days were declared by the Nigerian authorities to celebrate the end of the 30-day fast of Ramadan observed by Muslims in Nigeria and across the globe.
The statement issued today said the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who declared the holidays on behalf of the federal government, extended warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to the Muslim faithful on the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan.
He called on all Nigerians to use the festive period to pray for the continued peace, unity, and prosperity of the nation.
While wishing the Muslim faithful a joyful Eid-ul-Fitr celebration, the Minister encouraged citizens to celebrate responsibly and extend acts of kindness to the less privileged in society, expressing the government’s commitment to “fostering national unity and peaceful coexistence among all Nigerians.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) is targeting improved energy efficiency and the reduction of electricity supply hiccups to meet demand from the commercial sector.
The chief executive of the commission, Mr Temitope George, while listing the development agenda, vowed to make LASERC the foremost electricity regulator in Nigeria, reaffirming its commitment “to be the leading electricity regulator facilitating sustainable electricity and enhancing the quality of life for all residents in Lagos State.”
Mr George spoke at the close of the organisation’s maiden three-day capacity-building retreat, which had in attendance members, senior government officials, regulatory experts, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on key issues shaping electricity regulation and market development in the state.
With the theme Strengthening Regulatory Framework and Institutional Capacity for a Sustainable Electricity Market in Lagos State, the forum served as a platform for knowledge exchange, policy alignment, and institutional learning aimed at sharpening regulatory effectiveness and electricity governance in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Sabur Oluwa, assured the commitment of the Lagos State House of Assembly to support policies and legislative frameworks that will promote sustainable power development and improved electricity service delivery for residents of the state.
Also, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), highlighted the role of legal and institutional frameworks in ensuring effective regulation and alignment with the broader developmental priorities of Lagos State.
Delivering a presentation on the strategic implementation plan and electricity policy overview, the commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Biodun Ogunleye, noted that a well-structured regulatory framework is essential for attracting investment, improving infrastructure, and ensuring a reliable electricity supply across the state.
The permanent secretary of the ministry, Mr Abdulhafiz Toriola, stressed that effective collaboration within the public service is critical for the successful implementation of policies that will strengthen the electricity sector and enhance service delivery.
The general manager of the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Mr Afolabi Solebo, shared insights on strengthening consumer protection mechanisms and improving complaint resolution within the electricity market, while the director general of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr Fatai Onafowote, highlighted the role of procurement processes in ensuring transparency and efficiency in public sector projects.
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