The need for the media to strengthen collaboration with Non Governmental Organisations in its enlightenment of The Nigeria Police Act. 2020 aimed at checking abuses by rank and file has been stressed.

The call was contained in calls by speakers at a one a one day Media Town hall meeting on Human Rights, The Police Act 2020 and Regulations organised by Partners West Africa Nigeria, PWAN in Abuja.

In her opening remark, the Executive Director, PWAN, Mrs Kemi Okenyodo said the meeting was at the instance of the need to strengthen trust, transparency and accountability on the implementation of the Act by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force using the media in its advocacy to achieve set goals.

In his goodwill message at the occasion, delivered on behalf of Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, FCDO, the old Act of 1943 was repealed and replaced with the new one described as friendly and governed by the fundamental principles of justice and equity.

The Assistant Director Training, Human Rights Institute, Abuja
Mr Obiora Nwosu in his presentation of The Police Act 2020/Regulation called on Media professionals as key drivers in disseminating contents of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 for the purpose of protecting human rights and stop it’s abuse by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

Mr. Nwosu who highlighted the framework and guiding principles of the Nigeria police to include responsiveness, respect for the dignity of persons, safeguarding fundermental Rights among others, explained that the 2020 police act was designed to meet international standards and stressed the need for the public to know their rights.

He attributed lack of knowledge and ignorance of the content of the Act by the public as major reasons why their fundamental human rights are trampled upon.

According to him, media practitioners are major stakeholders who should use their platforms to disseminate the content of the Act to stop the abuses by some personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

During the Panel discussion on Media Reporting: Mainstreaming of the Police Act 2020, especially in the reporting of arrest, stop and search, profiling, and other related issues anchored by the Chief Executive Officer, Akweya TV, Mr Diego Okenyodo, the Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, CHRCR, Idris Miliki urged journalists to de-emphases on breaking news and invest more on investigative journalism to get the facts behind the events.

Mr Miliki called on the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and related bodies to equally invest in capacity building of media professionals to avoid undue interference from any quarters.

Participants at the programme who described the town hall meeting as an eye opener, expository enough about The Police Act 2020, expressed appreciation to PWAN for the opportunity and promised to carry the enlightenment to the targeted audience.

The event brought together practising journalists from Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger state and the FCT.