Security sector stakeholders have raised serious concerns over the yawning gap between the provisions of the Police Act 2020 and the reality of policing in Nigeria.

At a town hall meeting organized by Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) in Enugu on Wednesday, and subsequent stakeholder engagements on Friday and Saturday, legal experts, civil society leaders, and media practitioners warned that the much-publicized reforms remain largely “paper victories,” hampered by low public awareness and entrenched corruption within the police force.

The events also marked the launch of a two-week advocacy project, supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), aimed at promoting the full implementation of the Act across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The Executive Director of PWAN, Ms. Kemi Okenyodo, noted that while the 2020 Act introduced landmark reforms – including the prohibition of “arrest in lieu” and the institutionalization of community policing – their impact is muted because the public is largely unaware of their rights.

“Laws can only work when citizens know their rights and demand compliance,” Okenyodo said, represented by PWAN programme officer, Ms. Hamidat Oyedele.

Echoing this view, the Enugu branch Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Vernacius Odo, delivered a scathing critique of the current state of policing.

Describing the Act as “rich in innovation but poorly practiced,” Odo expressed doubt that even 10 percent of police officers are familiar with the law they are meant to enforce. He also criticized the “commercialization” of policing, alleging that some stations now operate as debt-recovery centers or “mini-courts,” collecting illegal fees from disputing parties.

The discussion also highlighted the human dimension of reform. Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), stressed that humanizing the police is key to achieving meaningful change.

“Police officers in Nigeria are themselves victims of systemic neglect,” Nwanguma said, adding, however, that hardship is no justification for abuse. He recalled the 2020 #EndSARS protests, noting that officers who had built trust through professional conduct were spared attacks and even supported by their communities.

As the advocacy project moves to Borno, Lagos, Kano, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stakeholders in Enugu emphasized that without strict enforcement of accountability and genuine attention to officer welfare, the Police Act 2020 risks remaining a hollow document.