The Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, have pledged to strengthen collaboration aimed at promoting accountability, transparency and public confidence in policing through an enhanced Complaint Response Unit (CRU) and improved media engagement.
The commitment was made on Friday when the newly appointed Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Anietie Okokon Iniedu, paid a courtesy visit to the NUJ FCT Council Secretariat in Abuja as part of his familiarisation tour following his appointment.
Speaking during the visit, CSP Iniedu described the Complaint Response Unit as the Nigeria Police Force’s foremost internal accountability mechanism, designed to receive, track and resolve complaints from members of the public against police personnel across the country.
He explained that the CRU operates round the clock to address allegations of professional misconduct, extortion, harassment, abuse of office and human rights violations, noting that the Force is currently strengthening the platform to improve response time, enhance complaint tracking and ensure greater transparency in the resolution of reported cases.
According to the Force PRO, the reforms are in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police to build a more accountable, professional and citizen-focused police institution.
CSP Iniedu stressed the importance of the media in advancing the reform agenda, describing journalists as critical partners in fostering public trust and promoting responsible policing.
As part of efforts to deepen engagement with the media, he announced plans to organise a media parley involving the Nigeria Police Force Zone 7 Command, saying the initiative would provide journalists with firsthand information on police operations and reforms.
He urged media professionals to actively participate in the engagement to ensure accurate, balanced and factual reporting of police activities.
“Journalists are part of the police family,” Edem said, adding that constructive media engagement would not only improve public understanding of police reforms but also strengthen institutional accountability.
Responding, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, welcomed the renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to transparency and accountability, particularly through the strengthening of the Complaint Response Unit.
She commended CSP Iniedu for his openness and willingness to engage with the media, describing the visit as a positive step towards rebuilding public confidence through effective communication.
Grace Ike assured the Force PRO of the council’s readiness to collaborate with the Nigeria Police Force in promoting public awareness of the CRU and other reform initiatives.
She said journalists in the FCT would continue to provide responsible coverage of policing issues, amplify legitimate public complaints and ensure that matters affecting citizens receive sustained attention and appropriate follow-up.
The meeting also highlighted the critical role of the media in bridging the gap between the police and the public by educating citizens on available complaint channels and monitoring the outcomes of reported cases.
The strengthened partnership between the Nigeria Police Force and the NUJ FCT Council is expected to enhance transparency, improve public access to the Complaint Response Unit and reinforce ongoing efforts to build a more accountable, responsive and service-oriented police institution in Nigeria.
