Promotion of Nigeria's International Image by the Activities of the Nigeria Police Force

Abstract

The Nigeria Police Force has contributed much to peace keeping, maintenance of law, order, training and development of police personnel in other countries. The Police Force has used its membership of Interpol to prevent irans-border crimes. That is why the Force has laudable image abroad. However; the Police Force has always been rejected by Nigerians since its foundation by the British and it has always been at logger head with the public. In the post independent era the Nigeria government redefined the goals of the force as contained in the police Act, yet the force continues to have strained relationship with the public who perceive it as an instrument of stale oppression. The involvement of police in politics derailed her during the military era. It left negative effects on the police personnel and equipment. The consequence is the frustration being vented on the public who sees the police as criminals in uniform. This study highlights the contrasting image of the Police Force abroad as good peace keepers and at home as criminals in uniform. The researchers used both primary and secondary sources. There are many social ills in the country, especially bribery and corruption, which are working against the social, economic, political, and psychological development of Nigerians and the country as a whole. As an institution saddled with the responsibility of maintenance of law and order citizenship education is an avenue and tool by which the educational system can produce a force that is capable °flaking the 'ask of nation-building seriously. If the living condition of police is improved upon and good equipment are provided there will be a change of attitude by the police with a positive impact on Nigerians.