Is State Police the antidote for effective policing in Nigeria?

This study is embarked upon to ascertain the viability of state police in Nigeria and whether a state police model would be the antidote for effective policing in Nigeria. The study examines the policing system in Nigeria and the advocacy for change in how the country is being policed, this is against the backdrop of the centralized structure of the Nigeria Police Force(NPF) and the increased waning of confidence in its ability to effectively control the upsurge of violent crimes across the country, Similarly, the study examined sundry concerns that have hampered the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force, whilst critically evaluating the impact of a centralized structure in a federalist system of government.    

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication…………………………………………………………………………………………….4

Acknowledgments…………………….……………………………………………………………..5

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………….6

Candidate’s declaration……………………………………………………………………….…….7

CHAPTER 1

1.0 Background of the study………………………………………………………………………..8

1.1 Research problem………………………………………………………………………...........9

1.2 Research Questions………………………………………………………………………….…9

1.3 Objective of the Study………………………………………………………………………...10

1.4 Research Themes………………………………………………………………....................11

1.5 Structure of the Thesis………………………………………………………………………..12

CHAPTER 2

2.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………….....13

2.1 The case for state police……………………………………………………………………...19

2.2 The case against state police…………………………………..……………………….......27

2.3 State and Local Police Forces to Coexist with Federal Police………………………......29

2.4a Structure of Policing in Some Countries…………………………………………………..30

2.4b Different Model of Policing…………………………………………………………………..31

2.5a. Summary of Appraisal of Policing Structures in Four Countries……………………….35

2.5b. The politics of police and policing in Nigeria……………………………………..………36

2.6 Philosophy of Effective Policing and the Criminal Justice System………………………39

2.7 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………..………... 44

CHAPTER 3

3.0 Theoretical Framework; Research Theory, Strategies and Paradigms………..……..…45

3.1 Structure Contingency Theory……………………………………………………..………...48

3.2 The Research Process and Strategies..…………………………………………………….50

3.3a Methodology…………………………………………...………………………….………….51

3.3b Methods………………………………………..………………………………..……………51

3.4a Research Paradigms…………………………………………………………….…………..52

3.4b The Epistemology Issues…………….……………………………………….…………….52

3.4c Objectivism and Subjectivism………………………………………………….……………52

3.4d Ontology ……………………………..……………………………………………………….53

3.4e Social Constructionism…………………………………………………………………..….54

3.5 Qualitative Methods………………………………………………………………………..….55

3.6 Justification for Qualitative Research Method.……………………………………….…….56

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3.7 Triangulation Technique………………………………………………………………………56

3,7 Justification for the use of Triangulation…………………………………………………….56

3.7 Focus Group Discussion…………………………………………………………………......56

3.8 Interpretivism…………………………………………………………………………………..57

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..………….58

CHAPTER 4

4.0 Research Design……………………………………………………………………..……….59

4.1 Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research…………………………………………….59

4.2 Ethical Considerations……………………………………………………………..………….60

4.3a Data Collection………………………………………….…………………..……………….61

4.3b Research Participants……………………………………………………………………….61

4.4 Demographic of Participants…………………………………………………………………62

4.5 Discussion Segments…………………………………………………………………………63

4.6 Short Preamble…………………………………………………………………….………….63

4.7 The Three-Stage Research Cycles……………………………………………..…………..64

4.8 Data Analysis and Interpretation.……………………………………………………………66

4.9 Transcription of Audio-Video Tapes…………………………………………………………66

4.10 The Data Coding Process of Focus Group Discussion.……………………….………...68

4.11 The Different Phases…………………………………………………………….………….69

4.12 The Link between Codes and Themes……………………………………………………77

4.12a. Making the text Manageable……………………………………………………………..78

CHAPTER 5

5.1 Discussion findings and Conclusion Linking Literature Review………………………...108

5.2 Research Practical Contribution to Policies and Its Implication for future of

Research……………………………………………………………………………………...112

5.3 Issues for Further Research…………………………………………………………...……114

5.4 Limitation of this Research……………………………………………………...…………..114

5.5 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..……..115

References………………………………………………………………………………………..116

Appendix 1: Organizational structure of the NPF …………………………………….………138

Appendix 2: Focus Group Discussion data ……………………………………………..........142

Appendix 3: Transcript collected from Focus Groups Discussions Cycles 1-3…………....148

Appendix 4: Final Draft of National Conference Report……………………………..……….161

Appendix5: 2008 Report of Presidential Committee on Police Reform…………………….162

Appendix:6 2006 Report of Presidential Committee on Police Reform…………………….167