REDEEMING THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF NIGERIA POLICE FORCE

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDYThe word Police is derived from the Greek word ‘Polis’ meaning the part of non-ecclesiastical administration having to do with safety, health and order of state. The Greek politaria, meant the act of governing and regulating the welfare, security need and order of the city-state in the interest of the public.Nigeria Police began with a (30) thirty members consular guard formed in Lagos colonies in 1861. In 1879, a one thousand two hundred (1,200) members armed paramilitary Hausa constabulary was formed.Before describing this system in brief, it is relevant to observe that policing and police work did not start as a paid profession. It started as a noble, incorruptible profession with considerable responsibility and distinction. It was the justice of the peace system, which corrupted the Paris constable system.Policing is referred to as measure and practice of securing the safety of members of community as well as ensuring conformity to the NORMS and VALUES of society. The Nigeria Police function and was responsible for internal security generally for supporting the prison, immigration, and custom service and for performing military duties within or outside Nigeria as directed.The Nigeria police indeed fallen short of these responsibility because of the obvious ethical vacuum and inability to overcome their genuine moral challenges.1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMThe Nigeria police force has over the years acquired a very negative image which has been a major problem to combat with, as the only force that has the enormous task of enforcing obedience of the law, prevention and detection and prevention of crime and protection of the lives and properties of the people in the country.Overtime, the masses have come to distrust and disrespect the Nigeria police force due to some of its infamous activities; as a result, the public image of the NPF (Nigeria Police Force) has deteriorated into a negative one.However, it is imperative for the Nigeria police force to enhance its image because the negative perception in which the public holds the police often hampers some of its activities.This study therefore, intends to show how public relations can create a new public image for the Nigerian police force (NPF).1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDYThis research project is set out for the following purpose;

1. To discuss the various principles of public relations
2. To analyze the public image of Nigeria police force
3. To know some media and method of use in public relations as related to the NPF
4. To discuss extensively about the challenges facing Police Area Command department in Kogi State

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONSThe questions which this study attempt to answers are as follows:

1. What do you think are the reasons why police men collect bribes in the police station or road side?
2. Do you think the Nigeria police force are performing their functions effectively?
3. Why have police men not been following the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria? Is it because Nigeria is corrupt?
4. Is it the low salary received by the Nigeria Police force that is making them not to function in their duties?
5. Is the Nigeria police force truly your friend?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDYThe research will highlight the masse’s perception of the police and the responsibilities of both the masses and the police to the society.The research will be very useful to Nigeria police force as well as highlighting the problems facing the NPF1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONSThe scope of the research project will be centred on the activities of the Nigeria police force in Kogi State, in relation to the Kogi State police command and the public and how the police command can redeem the image of the NPF. The scope does not cover the entire nation.The project topic is limited to Kogi State. This is due to the constraints that may be faced by the researcher if he covers the activities of the NPF in the entire nation.1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMSREDEEMING: This is the act of retrieving or collecting.PUBLIC: This is the act of been connected to ordinary people in the society in generalIMAGE: It is seen as a person, an organization or a productPOLICE FORCE: An official body of people employed a state to prevent crime and keep public order.BRIBERY: Dishonestly pay someone to act in one’s favourCORRUPTION: Willing to act dishonestly in return for money.COMMUNICATION: The act of interacting with people or the act of passing information.1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDYThis research project is divided into five chapters.Chapter one is the introduction of the work that is followed by the area covered; background to the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, significance of the study, research questions, scope/imitations of the study, definition of key concepts.Chapter two; is the literature review and includes public image of the Nigeria Police Force, duties of the Nigeria Police Force area command department in Kogi State, challenges of Police Area Command Department in Kogi State, public relations method employed by the Nigeria Police Force Kogi State Police Command, media and method of public relations and principles of public relations respectively.Chapter three is the research methodology and includes research design, area of study, population of the study, sample of the study, description of instrument, administration and retrieval of instruments, administration of research questionnaires and method of data analysis.Chapter four is the data presentation and analysis and includes data presentation, analysis of data, test of hypotheses and discussion of findings.Chapter five is summary, recommendations and conclusion.