Media stakeholders on Friday converged in Lagos to interrogate police accountability, ethical reporting and public trust, as a Police–Media Dialogue Session organised by the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), held without the presence of representatives of the Nigeria Police Force or any other security agency.
The one-day session, which took place at The Colossus, Ikeja, brought together journalists from print, broadcast and digital platforms for candid, solution-focused discussions on the implementation of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, revised Police Regulations and the broader challenge of rebuilding public confidence in law enforcement.
Speaking at the event, Programme Assistant at PWAN, Ms. Ore Fatuyi, clarified that invitations were duly extended to the police and other security agencies, but none was represented at the session. She explained that the dialogue was conceived as a collaborative platform to strengthen police–media relations and support ongoing reforms, rather than an adversarial engagement.
Fatuyi said PWAN’s interventions are guided by humanitarian sensitivity and inclusiveness, noting that security reforms must consciously respond to the needs of vulnerable populations and communities affected by insecurity, weak governance and human rights violations.
PWAN, a women-led non-governmental organisation working across Nigeria and West Africa, is implementing the project “Enhancing Public Trust and Gender-Responsive Policing in Nigeria Through the Effective Implementation of the Police Act 2020,” with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The initiative is being executed across the six geopolitical zones, with emphasis on institutional accountability, gender responsiveness and citizen-centred policing.
According to the organisers, the dialogue was designed to deepen understanding of police reforms, increase awareness of revised Police Regulations, operationalise the Nigeria Police Force Gender Policy and reduce rights violations, particularly gender-based violence.
The session, conducted under the Chatham House Rule, allowed participants to speak freely without attribution, creating space for honest reflection on police–media relations, public communication and accountability. Journalists engaged in interactive exchanges on ethical reporting, access to information and the role of the media in shaping public perception of policing.
Participants raised concerns about reporting constraints, including limited access to police facilities, restrictions on mobile phone use during coverage, and reliance on official statements without opportunities for independent verification during investigations.
Discussions also extended to the socio-economic dimensions of security, with participants underscoring how effective policing outcomes influence daily life and how responsible journalism can reinforce transparency and public trust. The growing role of technology featured prominently, as stakeholders examined digital platforms, data-driven reporting and social media as tools for improving information flow and real-time engagement with the public.
Despite the absence of security agency representatives, participants agreed that sustained dialogue remains critical to aligning police reforms with media responsibility. They noted that as Nigeria continues to implement the Police Act, 2020, inclusive platforms that bridge institutional gaps will be essential to translating legislative intent into tangible improvements in accountability, professionalism and citizen confidence.