The Senate Tuesday set in motion the process of amending the 75-year-old Police Act to ensure delivery of better service by the Nigeria Police Force.

This followed the second reading of a Bill for an Act to repeal the Police Act CAP P18 LFN 2004 and enact the Police Reform and related matters 2018.

Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South) in his lead debate said that when passed into law, the Bill will make for the formation of a Police that shall protect the rights and freedoms of persons envisaged in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

Na’Allah lamented that “we are in a country where somebody will be kidnapped, ransom demanded, arranged, paid and delivered to the kidnappers without any arrest.”

He said that the Bill will lead to the establishment of a Police that will “prevent the commission of crimes, detect crimes, apprehend offenders, preserve law order, protect lives and property and duly enforce all laws and regulations with which they are duly charged and such duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them by or under the authority of this or any other Act ensure cooperation between the Police Service and the various communities it serves in preventing and combating crimes, ensuring respect for the victims of crime; appreciating the needs of such victims and providing for effective civilian supervision of the Police.”

He said that the financial implication of this Bill is no more than what has been appropriated for the Police by the National Assembly.”

•Text excerpted from The Nation