The Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), has trained journalists in Kano State on police reform and the implementation of the Police Act 2020 to enhance accountability and public trust.
Speaking at a one-day workshop for media practitioners, PWAN’s Acting Programme Manager, Aisha Isa-Yusuf, said the training was designed to sensitise journalists on the provisions and key innovations of the Police Act 2020.
According to her, the workshop aimed at promoting awareness of ongoing policing reforms, strengthening accountability and fostering a violence-free society.
“We organised this training to sensitise media practitioners on the new Police Act of 2020, its innovations and what it contains to ensure a more accountable and violence-free society,” she said.
Isa-Yusuf described journalists as critical stakeholders who serve as a bridge between security agencies, government institutions and the public.
“The journalists are the mouthpiece of the masses. They are the bridge between law enforcement agencies, government officials and the communities. Strengthening that bridge will help promote collaboration and accountability in society,” she added.
She urged media practitioners to raise public awareness about the provisions of the Act, noting that the law introduced reforms to address human rights violations, protect the dignity of suspects and safeguard lives and property.
Isa-Yusuf explained that the Act prohibits arrest in lieu, prevents police interference in civil or contractual disputes and ensures that women who meet bail conditions are not denied bail.
“There are new provisions in the Police Act that replace outdated colonial practices. The public must be sensitised on these reforms to promote a safer and more accountable society,” she said.
She further emphasised the role of the media in monitoring police conduct at the grassroots level and ensuring accountability through investigative and solutions-driven reporting.
Isa-Yusuf urged journalists to verify information through forensic journalism, sustain public engagement through cross-platform reporting and follow up cases until court verdicts are delivered.
Also speaking, a facilitator, Odoh Okenyodo, stressed the need for developmental and solutions journalism in addressing policing challenges.
He noted that journalists should highlight effective reforms while exposing existing gaps, adding that balanced reporting would enhance understanding between the police and the public.
“We are not saying journalists should stop investigative reporting. Rather, we are encouraging the use of solutions journalism as an additional tool to address complex policing challenges,” he said.
Another facilitator, Aro Leonard, called on journalists to leverage their influence in promoting transparency and reform within the policing system.
He said the media has significant power to shape public discourse and hold institutions accountable through factual and balanced reporting.
PWAN is a women-led non-governmental organisation committed to strengthening citizen participation, improving security governance and enhancing protection systems across Nigeria and West Africa.
The programme, supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO UKaid), is being implemented under a project titled, “Enhancing Public Trust and Gender-Responsive Policing in Nigeria Through the Effective Implementation of Police Act 2020,” across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
