ii

A COMPENDIUM OF SELECTED PAPERS AND WRITE-UPS

BY

M. A. KURFI CP(RTD)

iii
 CONTENTS

Dedication - i

Acknowledgements - ii

Preface - 1-3

Part One A - 4-11

Part One B - 12-17

Part One C - 18-46

Part Two A - 47-57

Part Two B - 58-75

Part Two C - 76-78

Part Two D - 79-91

Part Three A - 92-93

Part Three B - 94-96

Part Three C - 97-101

Part Four A - 102-117

Part Four B - 118-137

Part Five A - 138-154

Part Five B - 155-167

APPENDIX A - 168

iv
 DEDICATION

To my creator Almighty Allah (SWT)

My Lord increase me in knowledge
(Chapter 29:114, Taha)

v
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Bismillahi, I am indebted to Professor David Iornem of the University of St. Clements, a

genial, well disposed personality and no doubt an academic polymath who ab initio gave me
the encouragement and continued to do so throughout the period of my studies.
I also thank members of my family, particularly my wife, Hajiya Fatima, a holder of
Diploma in Islamic Studies from Danfodio University, Sokoto, now a retired teacher who was
always making useful suggestions some of which were eventually incorporated into the script.
Both my daughter Maryam, a drama major who teaches English and my son Sirajo who is doing
his MBA, made their contributions to the success of this work.

vi
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mudi Aliyu Kurfi M.A. (Eng) holds a Professional Diploma of the International
Police Academy, Washington DC, USA and a Professional Certificate of Police College,
Dishforth, England, United Kingdom. Had his early education at the Provincial Secondary
School, Katsina (now Government College, Katsina) before proceeding to the Institute of
Administration (the famous Quango), Zaria where he received initial training in Co-
operative Studies to prepare him for advanced course at Co-operative College,
Loughborough, England, United Kingdom.
He started his early working career in the then Ministry of Social Welfare and
Cooperatives in the defunct Northern Nigerian Government before he was transferred
to the Federal Government with the Nigeria Police Force in 1968 with the equivalent
rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police after his basic training. He later received
further training of Senior Police Officers (SPO) at the Police Staff College; Jos.
M. A. Kurfi had a brilliant career in the Nigeria Police Force, serving in various
departments in different capacities including Force C.I.D. Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos,
Lagos State C.I.D. Panti Street and Kaduna State C.I.D which he commanded. He also
commanded state police commands of Abuja, F.C.T and Borno before his retirement in
1986 with the rank of Commissioner.
Thereafter he worked briefly with the Industrial Arbitration Panel, Lagos in 1990
before returning home to embark on a distance learning programme of study with St.
Clements, University, Turks and Caicos Islands to earn a Masters Degree in Applied
English.
A computer literate, Kurfi is a keen listener to various international radio stations
and is an addictive reader of cathelic interest who occasionally writes newspaper
articles on Nigerian current political affairs. He is happily married with children.

vii
 PREFACE

This book titled From the Commissioners Archives is a compendium of selected papers from
my write ups on diverse subjects, and is divided into five parts of roughfly related subjects. The
purpose of this compilation is to make available materials for research and scholarship and also
to showcase my humble contributions towards building a better Nigeria in all facets of the
society. It also provides a rich source for information for the general reader and for generation
next to emulate.

2. Part One: Deals with Nigeria Police Force reforms in three separate papers some on my
own initiative while others are submissions on request. The first paper titled
Suggestions for Award of new Monetary incentives to motivate Policemen to combat
major crimes, was submitted to the Inspector-General of Police on my own initiative.
The paper seeks to galvanize the authority to review both the monetary and the non
monetary awards given to Police Inspectors and the members of rank and file as
incentives for doing an extra good job like arresting a notorious criminal or gang. The
second paper is titled Introducing quality control scheme in the Nigeria Police Force to
meet the demand of Vision 2000. This paper was submitted to the Inspector-General of
Police in 1998 and it contains suggestions for police reforms on a limited scale. Some of
these suggestions had since been picked by the then Inspector-General of Police and
had been put into practice. While the third paper was submitted recently on request by
the Katsina state government as input for the paper it was going to submit to the
Federal Government Police Reform Committee.

3. Part Two: This contains lectures delivered by me on invitation by different institutions

and at different times and on different subjects. The first paper titled Orientation
Lectures: Polytechnic students of Bauchi Federal Polytechnic. The theme of my lecture
here is the relationship between the Nigeria Police Force as a security agency and the
students of the school. The lecture touches on a range of areas which are the source of
conflict between the law enforcement agency and the students of tertiary institutions.
The second lecture was delivered at University of Ilorin, Kwara State in 1983 at an

1
 International Seminar on drugs. The paper gives an indepth analysis of the causes of
road accidents as a result of the use of drugs by road users especially drivers. The paper
was well received by the members of the seminar and infact I was given a standing
ovation when I finished reading it and the paper was selected among the best six
submissions to compile a resume in a booklet for the seminar. The third paper was an
address I was selected by my course mates to give to the Nigeria Police Staff College, Jos
during the closing ceremony of Course C4/81 in which I participated along with other
Senior Police Officers. The third paper was the one I personally submitted by hand to
the late Umar Musa Yaradua when he was first elected the governor of Katsina State.
The paper contained very interesting suggestions for action by the governor.

4. Part Three: This category is about politics in Nigeria as events unfolded themselves
during the first tenure of Obasanjos presidency.

a). This is a short poem titled, The Nigerian Politician. It depicts the average Nigerian
Politician as reckless, corrupt, deceitful and self-seeking who aims at accumulation of
wealth and power for abuse and misuse.

b). This is a letter to the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his show of great
courage to fight TAZARCE to finish.

c). A political satire depicting the fight of the century between Atiku and Obasanjo

5. Part Four: This contains my two separate reports on the situation of petroleum scarcity
in the North in particular and in Nigeria in general. I submitted the reports to the state
government as the Chairman of Katsina State Committee on Procurement, Monitoring
and Distribution of Petroleum Products. An in-depth report given on the situation and
many suggestions were made for remedy.

6. Part Five: The two expositions are research papers submitted to the schools I attended
overseas in respect of my theses for my professional certificate and diploma
respectively in Police Professional courses.

2
a). The first is a research paper on drug and crime submitted to the Police College
Dishforth, England in 1972/3 overseas course. My paper was adjudged by the panel of
the directing staff as the best in the class and in accordance with the tradition of the
college, I was asked to read it to the members of my class.

b). The second, equally, is a research paper on an argumentative topic, The Police
Generalist Vs The Police Specialist submitted to the International Police Academy,
Washington Dc, USA for my diploma in General Police Duties Course. By a cunny
coincidence, this paper too was selected as the best on the course and in line with the
tradition of the institution; I was directed to read it to the listening students of my class.

c). Appendix A: This is a congratulatory letter on my promotion to the substantive rank

of Deputy Commissioner of Police from late Alhaji Tatari Ali, the then governor of Bauchi
State from 1979-84. May his soul rest in perfect peace, ameen. I have had excellent
rapport with him and we worked together for the good cause of the people of Bauchi
state. I feel sentimentally obliged to record this piece here with tears in my eyes.

Enjoy the read.

M.A. Kurfi

18/12/2012

3
 PART ONE
A
The Nigeria Police,
A Department
State Headquarters,
Bauchi.
12th January, 1981

The Inspector-General of Police,

The Nigeria Police,
Force Headquarters,
Moloney Street,
Lagos.

SUGGESTIONS FOR AWARD OF NEW MONETARY INCENTIVES TO MOTIVATE POLICEMEN TO

COMBAT MAJOR CRIMES

This submission seeks to do some thinking aloud as to whether it is not high time to introduce
new monetary incentives into the Police system with a view to motivating the policemen to
invigorate their efforts in the running battle of combating crime in the country. It is palpably
manifest that the country is now facing an unprecedented crime wave which despite relentless
efforts, has so far defied solution and as such the phenomenon continues unabated. The men
of the underworld have almost snatched the initiatives from the Force to the extent of not only
dictating the tempo of crime incidence but also the introduction of new modus operandi like
unprovoked attack on an armed policeman with the sole aim of snatching his weapon. The
criminals in our midst have developed enormous self confidence and they strike at will with
impunity and devastating consequences. It is also obvious that the criminals in this country are
so desparate and so dare-devil that they are no longer afraid of the law enforcement agents.
Because they know our shortcomings otherwise how could armed robbers strike in Maiduguri
and drove so confidently on the main highways with their loot of N231,000 neatly stuffed in
their get-away car and came all the way along passed Bauchi which is more than 400km apart
and went beyond without being effectively intercepted. Such is the pathetic situation today!
Although we know our deficiencies, it is not enough to sit and wail about our lot. On the
contrary, we should be examining the present system constantly with a view to adopting new
methods of approach.

4
2. The present set of incentives given to Policemen for an act of gallantry, loyalty to the
service, devotion to duty and display of intelligence above average are out of date to say the
least and therefore they need complete overhauling with a view to discarding many and
substituting them with new measures which will take into consideration the economic realities
of the present day Nigeria. It will not require the consultancy services of a sociologist cum-
economist to know that the sharp and inordinate acquisitive mentality of the average Nigerian
is responsible for the astronomical rise in the crime wave. The avaricious desire for a quick fix
without commensurate honest and hard-work has inverted our values. The time honoured
values, like a steady and gradual rise to success in life, are no longer admired, nay, they have
become objects of derision. People are hankering to get rich quick by all means. This is the
situation in the Nigerian Society today. The Signal message here is that the men and women in
the Nigeria Police Force are part and parcel of this Society.

3. However, it is not the intention of this exposition to discuss at length these ills of the
society except by way of illustrating a point which will help in making some relevant deductions
and drawing some conclusions. It is on this score therefore that it is considered apposite to be
realistic and take the economic circumstances of our times when introducing any new
incentives for motivating the men and women.

The present sets of incentives do not produce the desired effect because they are
definitely out of tune with the reality of our economic situation. In examining these incentives
which are given to the members of the force as rewards for special efforts displayed in the
course of the running battle with the criminals in this country, the ones which readily come to
mind are the Inspector-Generals of Police or Commissioners of Police Commendation with or
without monetary award, promotion to the next rank, a letter of good work done, and recently
Heros grant and death gratuity for the estates of those killed in action or died while on duty.
Going through them with a tooth comb, one finds that the first is discriminatory and a colonial
relic in concept, for it excludes the superior Police Officers as in those days the intended
beneficiaries of this kind of honorarium were the natives whose prospect of promotion
stopped at the inspectorate level. The Superior Police Officer Cadre was then the preserve of

5
the colonialists who were Her Majestys officers and therefore the masters who bestowed such
token rewards to their subjects. Furthermore, it is out of tune with the economic reality of
present day Nigeria because N10 which is the maximum monetary award, is not much money
today. As for the second although it is a basic incentive and as such it is always heralded at the
first instance but later when ones mates catch up with him it becomes routine and in real
monetary terms this incentives does not fetch much to swell ones pay-packet because the
difference on the scale between one rung of the ladder and the next is minimal especially if the
beneficiary has stayed for sometimes in his previous rank. However, it should as a traditional
incentive be retained in certain cases in addition to the award of the new incentives. A letter for
good work done has a momentary psychological effect only and nothing more. It is forgotten
almost as soon as the short ceremony is over and it is filed away. The last mentioned incentives
Heros grant and death gratuity for obvious reasons no one wants them to apply to him but
only as fate will have it as one will prefer to remain alive. So it can be seen from the above that
these incentives are palliatives with the exception of Heros grant and to all intents and purpose
are out of date and of no practical effects. Having reviewed the present system and having
shown by reasoned argument its shortcomings, it is considered appropriate to proceed to
launch the new proposed scheme.

4. The basic concept behind this write up is to provide the mechanics for the formulation
of a dynamic and perdurable policy as regards to incentive awards which will not only boost
the morale of the serving members of the Force but will keep it high for a long time to come. It
will restore their confidence, reassure and guarantee them that one will be fully compensated
in value for money for any act of gallantry, intelligence, loyalty to the service and devotion to
duty, which contributes directly to either prevention of the commission of or detection of a
major or serious crime whose ingredients will be properly articulated hereafter. There is no
doubt that the force requires such enduring scheme which will open a new vista in our search
for a solution to the phenomenon of crime.

It will have to ignite and keep aflame a new sense of commitment to the service and a
burning desire in an individual to make his or her mark. We need a scheme which though in

6
every day use yet will not become routine and will retain its aura of honour, glory and
sublimity. It must not be subject to abuse.

5. The idea which has been exercising my mind in this regard after all said and done, is an
old wine in concept but in a new bottle of application. It boils down to the fact that the Force
should make available either by obtaining executive fiat or through the legislative process,
recurrently allocated funds for the purpose of disbursing to the deserving members of the
Force in the form of monetary incentives as instant awards for any act of gallantary, intelligence
display, loyalty to the service, devotion to duty, etc. which contributes directly to the
prevention of the commission of or detection of a major or serious crime. The incentive to be
given to the beneficiary must be munificent and equivalent in real monetary terms to striking
of oil so to speak. In other words, it must aim at making the greatest economic impact on the
life of the recipient(s). That is the crux of the matter. In this wise therefore the award should be
tax free and payment will be on pro-rata percentage of the total amount of money or value of
property recovered in certain cases while in others a prescribed sum will be paid to the
beneficiary irrespective of the face value of the property involved for instance the pro-rata
percentage value of recovered Police Sub-machine-gun may not be much money but the
recovery effort has a tremendous psychological value. It is also of critical import to design a
simple procedure of award which is stripped bare of all bureaucratic maze. The psychological
impact can only be felt if the award is made quickly and all at once. Another crucial aspect of
the new scheme is that it must cover all the different cadres in the Police Force. It will be
crippled once its application is discriminatory. The following crimes are considered major or
serious and as such they will be covered by the scheme:

a) Armed Robbery (with or without violence):

It is needless to say that of all the crimes being committed in the country no one other
than robbery in all its ramifications has struck fear in the minds of the populace and at
the same time alienates the people against the Police Force. It is the one crime which
poses the greatest threat not only to the lives of the Policemen but to the general

7
 economic and political stability of the nation as a whole. For nearly a decade now, the
Force has been fighting it out with robbers almost in a rear guard battle without ending.

i) Robbery involving money or property from N1,000.00 and above

A 15% of the value of recovered property of money to be awarded to the
beneficiary who has at the same time arrested at least one of the suspects who
actually participated in the physical act. A 10% award to be given in the case of
either recovery or arrest of suspect(s) only.
ii) Robbery involving small amount or property from 1k N1,000.00
An outright reward of N200.00 for arrest of suspect(s) and recovery of amount or
property robbed. An award of N100.00 in either case.
iii) Attempted robbery and suspects
Where amount is known 5% of the value to be awarded. Where amount or value
is not known an outright honorarium of N500.00 when commission of crime is
prevented as a result of physical contact with the robbers and their subsequent
arrest.

b) Assassination:

Although so far this type of crime took place only within the Armed Forces, it is a very
serious offence and having gone back to partisan politics one can not rule out the
possibility of history repeating itself. For arresting the suspects and recovery of the
weapon used in assassination an outright award of N5,000.00 should be given to the
beneficiary while accomplishing either will attract an award of N2,500.00. However,
arrest of suspects and recovery of weapon in an attempt to assassinate a political or
religious personality will secure N1,000.00 award.

c) Indian hemp

A discovery of an Indian hemp farm plantation and subsequent arrest of the cultivator
will attract an award of 5% of the market value. Recovery of an amount of hemp
weighing NOT LESS than 5 kilogrammes will attract an award of 5% of the market value.

8
d) Killing or attempt to kill or maiming of Police officer:

In the fight against highway robbers, so many Police officers have lost their lives and
many of these robbers in some cases had escaped being brought to justice. An arrest of
Police Officers killer should be rewarded with the sum of N200.00 and N100.00 for
arrest of suspects who attempted to commit such crime.

e) Stolen Vehicles

A recovery of a stolen vehicle and subsequent arrest of the suspect(s) will earn 15% of
the value of the vehicle stolen. The stakes are high in this crime because of its value
unlike robbery which is conspicuously absent in some parts of the country. 10% award
for accomplishing either and 5% for foiling an attempt when followed by successful
arrest.

f) Re-arrest of escaped notorious and dangerous criminal

This will cover escaped robber, assassin, murderer or common but notorious thief. A
sum of N200.00 to be awarded for re-arrest of any of them who are detained in Police
custody. Extra N50.00 if the escapee was detained in the prison.

g) Recovery of snatched Police weapon

One of the new modus operandi of criminals nowadays is to snatch forcefully a weapon
from a Policeman and use it in perpetrating another crime elsewhere most probably
armed robbery. Any recovery of such weapon and arrest of the persons involved will
attract an out-right award of N200.00 whereas accomplishing either will fetch N100.00.

6. I hasten to say that the above list is far from being exhaustive. Many other offences may
be added and that during the course of preparing any legislation to establish the system,
provision should be made whereby the I.G.P should be given the power to draw up the list and
hence he can vary it under certain conditions as and when the need arises.

9
7. In marshalling my reasons for propounding this idea, I look far and wide for the most
vivid example of an organization which has an incentive award system which undoubtedly has
not only sufficiently motivated the men but has kept their morale very high. Without hesitation,
the one which readily comes to mind is the Police Mobile Force. Although the original idea of
creating the Mobile Force is not indigenous, yet the Nigeria Police Force must be given full
marks for the successful transplant and thus establishing such a superbly efficient organization
properly tailor-made to the countrys need. If there is anything which the Force has
accomplished with such a consummate skill in recent times, it is the establishment of the Police
Mobile Force. It is a master piece of professional device which was executed with first rate
administrative ability and foresight. It is the only organization in the force today whose
members are always anxious to go into action despite the hazards involved therein. The serving
members are always eager to join the Mobile Force. It has always been a thing for joy to watch
the number lined up during a recruitment exercise. One will then have to pose a little and ask
why serving members are always ready to join the Police Mobile Force. There is nothing to
convince any body that the Policemen are rushing to join the Police Mobile Force because of its
attractive uniform or that it is a call to national duty. It is not also the thrill to be near death or
the love for adventure which attracts these young men to join. What is the magic about it then?
There is no magic besides the hard fact that there are attractive monetary incentives in various
forms, which are enjoyable in the Mobile Force. Any body who is prescient with what obtains in
the barracks will testify that after an emergency operation, the men return to their barracks to
acquire new motorcycles, big radios, television sets and Hi-fi booming sound music appliances.
Those who have large families will be able to pay school fees for their children to enter colleges
and those who are thinking of early retirement go to their home towns to acquire pieces of land
in preparation for putting up houses. This is the stark reality of the situation. This is what
actually keeps Mobile Force ticking. The morale of the boys is always high and they are
prepared and in fact they do give their very best. There are no two ways about it, the Force
must come up with a munificent scheme of this type, which will radically change our approach
to awarding incentives to the working policemen for specific efforts made to combat crime.

10
8. The above is my submission and I would be very grateful if due consideration will be
given to it so that by the end of the deliberations, necessary decision will be taken to draw up a
new policy to guide the award of incentives in order to encourage special efforts by Policemen
in the fight against crime.

9. It is imperative to keep the approved incentives in proper perspectives for periodical

review in line with the changing of the country is economic situation.

(M.A. Kurfi) Ag. DC

Deputy Commander of Police
Bauchi State Command

11
 B

M.A. Kurfi,
No. 8A Kofar Sauri
Crescent G.R.A.,
P.O.Box 294.,
Katsina.
10th April, 1998

The Inspector-General of Police,

The Nigeria Police Headquarters,
Abuja.

Dear Sir,

INTRODUCING QUALITY CONTROL SCHEME IN THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE TO MEET THE
DEMAND OF VISION 2010

I am prompted by the burning desire to make a humble contribution in the efforts to

raising the standard of the Nigeria Police Force and thereby improving the quality of its
members. In consequence therefore I have some ideas which have been exercising my mind
and I wish to share them with you.

2.0 There is no gainsaying that the administration of the Nigeria Police Force is a herculean
task which calls for enormous courage, focus, dedication, commitment, patience and
dynamism on the part of the leader. This daunting task, by the grace of Allah has fallen
upon your wide shoulders and there is no doubt you are equal to the task. History is on
your side in your efforts to improve the lot of the organization. Your achievements so
far are no mean what with the improvement of the renumeration of the members of
the force, the new communication system, the modern gadgets and the fleet of vehicles
for mobility. It is glaring that before the advent of your era, the Nigeria Police Force had
been suffering from to say the least benign neglect.

12
3.0 It is therefore considered germane to make suggestions which may assist the Inspector-
General in his indefatigable efforts to raise the standard of efficiency in the force and to
make it ready for the take off of vision 2010 and beyond.

4.0 RANK AND FILE: I will start with the rank and file cadre as it is the bedrock of the Nigeria
Police Force and its relevance and importance cannot be over stressed. The problems
facing this cadre are legion and it is not the intention of this brief letter to go into all of
them. However, it surfices to deal with the major ones. In this regard therefore
adequate measures should be taken to sanitize the cadre as it is the mirror image of the
Nigeria Police Force.

4.1 RECRUITMENT EXERCISES: The recruitment exercises into this cadre leave much to be
desired and it is ironical that the Nigeria Police Force is harbouring a number of
criminals, drunkards and mental cases. The recruitment officers perhaps in their bid to
produce the badly required man-power, have relaxed the recruitment regimes to the
extent that along the way many undesirable characters have found their way into the
force today. The activities of these individuals are tarnishing the good image of the
Force. The recruitment officers are to say the least corrupt, impetuous and cavalier. In
order to sanitize the cadre it is suggested that the Inspector-General of Police causes an
Operation show your previous Records, to be launched in every command and
formation in the Federation, so that previous records of every member of the rank and
file are checked thoroughly and meticulously. All those found with criminal records
should be dismissed. Furthermore in future the recruitment regimes should include
production of a certificate of good conduct duly signed by the Local Government
Chairman and the District Head/Village Head or Ward Head of place of residence rather
than place of birth.

4.2 MENTAL CASES: Within the rank and file there are many mental cases. Some have been
with the disease for many years and there is no sign of recovery. They constitute an
obstacle in man-power deployment while they are being paid salaries from the public
purse. It is therefore suggested that all such cases should be thoroughly and carefully

13
 examined by Police doctors, each case on its own merit, in order to determine chances
of recovery. All those with no chances of recovery should subsequently be discharged
from the force on grounds of ill-health. Added to this that a procedure on how to deal
with such cases as they occur in future should be established. This is to provide a
permanent solution to the problem.

4.3 QUALIFICATION FOR ENTRY AND PROMOTION: It is gratifying to note that already the
entry qualification for constable has been raised from Primary VII of Old to full
secondary education or Senior Secondary III. This measure will no doubt make an impact
on the quality of the constable grade and thereby the rank and file cadre. The present
system whereby constables are promoted to corporals, corporals to sergeants and
sergeants to Sgt-majors should be retained. However, it is suggested that those with
Secondary Education should be given preference over those with primary education.
Furthermore Sergeants to Inspectors course as it is being run now should be abolished
because of the low educational qualification of the beneficiaries. Instead all those
selected for Inspectors course, should have Senior Secondary School Certificate, so that
they can be sent to the Police Academy to join the cadet inspectors course. In other
words the cadet inspectors course should be the only scheme by which inspectors are
produced. All members of the rank and file with less than the requisite qualification
should be assisted to acquire the qualification. This can be achieved by granting Study
leave with pay to enable them read to the required qualification. At the moment the
members of the Force find it difficult to read for further education because Study leave
with pay is not normally granted them. On the other hand all those members of the rank
and file who cannot make the grade educationally, their career should terminate at
sergeant major level.

5.0 INSPECTORATE CADRE: This is the middle management cadre and there is no doubt that
it is an important handmaid of the senior management of the Superior Police Officers. It
cannot be said twice over that there is the need to instal quality control measures in
order to raise the educational standard of this cadre to enhance its quality and prepare

14
 it for the Superior Police Officers cadre. In this wise therefore it is suggested that all
inspectors with less the GCE, WASC or Senior Secondary School Certificate should be
made to read for further education in order to be selected for SPO cadre. In future the
bulk of the members of this cadre should come from the cadet inspectors scheme. All
those who cannot improve themselves educationally to the level of GCE, WASC or SSC
should not be allowed to become SPO and their career should terminate at Chief
Inspectors Level.

5.1 ANNUAL ASSESSMENT: The time honoured Assessment Interview which is conducted
annually to assess the performance of members of this cadre is becoming unwieldy,
cumbersome and time consuming in view of the increasing number of the inspectors in
each command. In order to relieve the Commissioners and other commanders of this
cumbersome duty it is suggested that the assessment interview be abolished and in its
place, the selected inspectors based on their annual reports, should be sent to the Staff
College for a course of three months duration at the end of which an examination
should be set for them. Those who pass the examination should attend an interview by
the commandant of the college or such other board set up by the Inspector-General of
Police. At the end of the interview the board should recommend those it deems
qualified to be promoted to SPO cadre by the Police Service Commission.

6.0 THE SPO CADRE: This is the senior and top management cadre of the Force and has as
its duty the administration, decision making and policy implementation of the force. It is
sub-divided into three grades i.e the Superintendent Grade Viz Assistant Superintendent
to Chief Superintendent of Police, secondly, the Commissioners grade i.e Assistant
Commissioner to Commissioner of Police, thirdly, the Inspectors-General grade i.e
Assistant Inspector General to Inspector-General of Police. It must be admitted that
some of the SPOs in this cadre are to say the least not up to the mark but they are there,
thanks to the time honoured system of promotion. What has been exercising my mind is
the fact that it is high time quality control measures are introduced in order to produce
high quality SPOs who can hold their own to be comparable with their counterparts in

15
 other services of the country. The members of this Cadre must be such that they can
always hold the fort in any circumstances. It is therefore suggested that before a Chief
Superintendent of Police becomes an Assistant Commissioner of Police, he or she must
under go a carefully designed course of three months duration at the staff college, at
the end of which he or she sits for a prescribed examination. Those who pass the
examination should be considered for promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner
of Police while those who fail should not be promoted but should be given a second
chance to sit for the examination without repeating the course. A failure for the second
time should be shown the way out or retained as the case may be, in the
Superintendent grade until retirement. Other services, like the Armed Forces, have
similar scheme.

6.1 For the Inspectors-General Grade, a Commissioner of Police must have attended the
course at National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies or National War College
before he or she is promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General. These courses
will definitely broaden their outlook and will make them better administrators and
policy formulators.
These suggestions may sound revolutionary but the time has come when the members
of the Police Force must be comparable in all respects to their counter parts in the
Armed Forces and Civil Service. They must have a place of honour and respect. The only
way to achieve this is by raising the quality of your officers. History will record you as
one who grips the Nigeria Police Force and shakes it to its foundation to make it ready
for the next millennium. Furthermore due to the depressed economy, the labour market
has become saturated and as such the Police Force should seize the opportunity while
the phenomenon lasts, to shop for the best material at no extra cost.
7.0 I am given to understand that efforts are being made to obtain government fiat to raise
the Police Academy to be a degree awarding institution. This is a step in the right
direction. I wish you the best of luck in this endeavour, the earlier the better.

16
7.1 MONETARY REWARD: As a post script, I wish to add that in view of the galloping
inflation of the economy and the depreciation of the naira and its diminishing
purchasing power, it is considered apposite to recommend a review of the monetary
reward given to the members of the Force for good work done.

7.2 In conclusion therefore I wish to say that having been out of the system for over a
decade now, I do not know what has been happening in the Force and as such I may be
writing out of ignorance. If such does happen I crave your indulgence.

Yours faithfully,

M. A. Kurfi

17
 C

A SUBMISSION TO THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE

ON NIGERIA POLICE REFORM

BY

M.A KURFI CP (RTD)

18
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION - 2

SITUATION OVERVIEW - 3

CAUSES INTERNAL - 4-13

CAUSES EXTERNAL - 13-14

REMOTE CAUSES - 15

EFFECT - 16

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS - 16

RESCUE MISSION - 16

RECOMMENDATIONS - 16-23

CONCLUSION - 23-24

POSER - 24

HIGHLIGHTS OF RECOMMENDATIONS AT A GLANCE - 25-26

19
 PAPER BY M.A KURFI CP (RTD)

ON THE NIGERIA POLICE REFORMS

I am delighted to receive a letter of formal invitation from no less a personality than the
Governor of Katsina State, calling for my contribution as input for the presidential committee
on the Nigeria Police Force Reforms.

2.1. A glance at the membership of the committee and the all embracing terms of reference
suggest ifso facto that the Federal Government is serious and therefore determined
more than ever before to go beyond the political rhetorics in its search for solutions to
the myriad problems of the Nigeria Police Force.

3.1. The committee comprises a galaxy of retired police officers who can be described as the
top echelon, the luminaries and the icons of the profession and each at onetime or the
other was at the helm of the affairs of the organization as Chief executive and had
therefore contributed positively or negatively to its present situation such that the
president had thought it well to sort of put them in the dock and says You are
responsible for this state of affairs, now give me solutions to salvage it, a very wise
move. Never in the history of police enquiries had such an array of eminent and high -
minded personalities with differing ideological convictions or with disagreeing
idiosyncrasies but all belonging to the same profession been assembled together to
pursue a single purpose. They remind one about a fable on the co-existence of a trio
made up of an owner of a hyena, an owner of a goat and an owner of a basket of corn,
travelling together. These experienced police officers together with the other equally
qualified civilian members of the committee have formed a formidable team which
instantly inspires confidence and like a magnet enticingly draws one to jump on the
bandwagon in order to be part of its history.

4.1. Like the chairman of the committee asserted in his acceptance speech it is a fact that in
the past there had been many enquiries on police reforms for which volumes of reports

20
 had been submitted to the government but they all ended up on the executive shelves
together dust as the decisions reached were never implemented; thus rendering it an
exercise in futility. The government routine white paper usually watered down the
report by the use of evasive bureaucratic jargons like this. Paragraph so and so
Government agrees with the recommendation contained therein but government needs
further clarification to enable decision be taken... By the time the white paper comes
out, the bureaucrats have virtually killed the report except in specific areas where they
have their interest or where the government has vested interest for setting up the
enquiry. Recently there was one of such enquiries in which the only action taken by the
government was a change of name by dropping the word Force from the original
name of Nigeria Police Force to read Nigeria Police only. By this action the
government had not only rendered the exercise futile but it made itself ridiculous and
ignorant because the name, The Nigeria Police Force, is a constitutional name and can
not be changed by whims and caprices. However, this time around the chairman was
sanguine that the government would have the will to implement the decisions it so
reached.

5.1 The Present Security Situation An overview

The purpose for this enquiry is to review the security situation as it were and to re-
invent the Nigeria Police Force by re-building its battered image to restore public
confidence in the organization. The exercise will inter-allia make the organization an
effective and efficient working machine which will stand the test of time as a centre
piece for internal security which presently has remained elusive or non-existent in many
parts of the country.

5.2. The scenario is that the country no doubt is under the siege of criminals and that the
people are living in a state of fear with their hearts in their mouths be it in their houses,
places of work or on the roads. The fact is that there is no security of life and property in
any part of the country and that people sleep with one eye open as the criminals who
have snatched the initiative from the security agents can strike with impunity any

21
 where and at any time of the day or night. The truth is that instead of putting the
criminals on the run, it is the citizens who are now on the run for dear life. The security
situation can not be worse as the rate of major crimes such as robberies, kidnappings,
assassinations, rapes and murders escalate. The security situation has certainly reached
its nadir as people are now advising each other that one should perpetually reserve
what is called armed robbers allowances, so that whenever they strike into the
premises, the occupants should quickly handover the amount reserved to the intruders
to save their own lives.

5.3. The raisons detre for the critical and undesirable security situation are multi-
dimentional and are not far to see. There are immediate and remote causes for the
unprecedented rise of crime wave in the country at this time of its history.

6.1. IN-HOUSE OR INTERNAL CAUSES (Immediate): The history of the Nigeria Police Force
goes back to over a century ago, 1860 to be precise, when it was first established by the
colonialists and since then it had enjoyed a steady and planned growth and expansion in
accordance with the economic, social and political developments of the country up to
1965.

7.1 UNPLANNED EXPANSION: On 15th of January, 1966, the military struck suddenly in a
coup detat which was foreign-instigated and tribally executed with casualties of both
important politicians and top military personnel from the Northern Region only who
were selected and murdered in their sleep. The aftermath of this coup became the
watershed in the Nigeria Police Force and the beginning of its travails. In consequence
there were serious civil disturbances particularly in the North whose people felt
devastated as it became clear that the objective of the coup was to rob the area of the
cream of its political and military leadership. As a result of the disturbances the Ibos felt
unsafe as there were retaliatory actions against them and so they fled to their region of
origin in the east, including their policemen who left behind thousands of vacancies as
they then constituted about 60% of the Nigeria Police Force.

22
7.2. As a result, the Nigeria Police Force found itself in a difficult situation because while it
was trying to cope with the civil disturbances, the departure of the Ibo policemen
created a vacuum in the manpower of the organization.

7.3. On July 15, 1966, there was a counter coup by Northern military officers which resulted
in widespread disturbances with accompanying deaths of both military and civilians. In
order to cope with the situation the Nigeria Police Force was forced to embark on
unplanned but sustained recruitments and training in order to fill the vacancies left
behind by the departing Ibos and also to expand the force to enable it cope with the
situation.

7.4. On 27th of May 1967, the Federal Government re-structured the country by breaking it
into twelve state structure instead of the four regions which existed before the first
coup. This was a device to forestal the intended secession by the Eastern Region. The
action obviously put more strain on the manpower of the Nigeria Police Force and
therefore more emergency recruitment to continue as each of the newly created states
must be given its full complement of command structure. Large scale recruitments
began on monthly basis instead of periodical.

7.5. On 6th July, 1967, civil war inevitably broke out between the rest of Nigeria and the
rebels in the Eastern Region which wanted to secede. The security situation became
almost untenable as the Nigeria Police Force was burdened with additional
responsibilities for while it was trying to discharge its primary function of civil policing of
a country at war, the military were deployed to the war fronts. The police then had to
combine some of their duties. Consequently, the tempo of emergency recruitment
increased not only to cope with the situation for internal security but also to deploy
some policemen to the liberated areas in order to establish law and order and to help
resettle the returned civilians in the areas to pursue normal civil life. The task was
enormous as refugees who escaped from the war zones were brought to Lagos, Kaduna
and other places and were kept in refugee camps. The police were responsible for their

23
 protection. The Police obviously became over stretched but could not complain because
it was an emergency period of war.

7.6 On 15th January 1970, the rebels surrendered and so the civil war ended while the
problems of its aftermath began. Soldiers who returned from the war fronts were
demobilized and so they went back home to live among the civil population in various
parts of the country. They came back with their guns and so another type of war began
as cases of confrontations began between the civilian population and the demobbed
soldiers on the one hand and the police and the military on the other. The security
situation was desperate and turbulent, demanding for more police men to help keep the
peace in the country for the post war period which gave rise to increased criminal
activities.

While the country was in the grip of post war problems, a coup took place on 29 th July,
1975 and General Murtala Muhammad emerged as the new Head of State.

8.1. In February 1976, more states were created. The Nigerian nation was restructured
further from twelve to nineteen states. More policemen were therefore required to
establish the command structures of nineteen states and so emergency recruitment
continued to the extent that a police training school was set up in each of the nineteen
states in addition to the existing four Police Colleges of Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu and
Maiduguri and later of Sokoto. In effect there were twenty four recruiting and training
centres for the Nigeria Police Force, thus firing on all cylinders.

8.2. After the assassination of General Murtala Muhammad his regime continued until 1979
when it handed over power to the civilians. The decision of the military to return the
country to civil rule brought political activities on high gear and the tempo increased as
the general elections approached. The political campaigns as usual were marked with
violence in various flash points in the country; demanding for more policemen to
maintain the peace. The general elections of 1979 took place and the military handed
over power and returned to the barracks.

24
8.3. In 1983 another general elections which were heavily rigged took place and there were
serious disturbances in its wake and peace became elusive in the country but the
civilians held on tenaciously with forlorn hope that things might get better.

8.4. The security situation became unbearable to the extent that the military staged a
comeback. They toppled the weak government of Shehu Shagari, which lacked any
moral mandate to rule the country. More responsibilities fell on the police while the
military sorted out the civilians. This was the worst military regime as far as
police/military relations were concerned because the regime treated the police with
considerable disdain to the extent that promotions were deliberately held back or
denied in certain circumstances and that some equipment acquired by the police
(Armoured Personnel Carrier) and Rover Panda cars were seized by the military. This
was followed by a wave of compulsory retirements in which many of the victims were
innocent.

8.5. In 1984, a palace coup took place and the regime of General Buhari was ousted by
General Ibrahim Babangida. Another wave of compulsory retirements were carried out
and thousands of good officers who had fallen out with their seniors became victims of
the exercise.

In 1987 two more states were created and these had to be established with full
complement of state commands. In consequence therefore there followed more
unplanned-cum-emergency recruitments to supplement the manpower of the already
over-stretched Force. The exercise brought the number of states to twenty one.

8.6. In 1989, there was another state creation exercise of nine more states with more local
governments. This brought the number of states to thirty. The Police Force had to follow
the same pattern to man both the newly created states and the local governments. It
simply meant more recruitment to augment the manpower which had been under
strain.

25
8.7. In 1991, General Abacha took over as Head of State and he too created six additional
states to bring the total number to thirty six states while additional local governments
brought the number to seven hundred and seventy four. These state creations were real
burden on the Nigeria Police Force which had no prior hint whatever of the decision to
create these states and the local governments. There was obvious shortage of
manpower in the organization and so the authority resorted to the usual favourable
ground of more recruitment. The floodgate was therefore opened.

8.8. In 1999, General Abdus Salami Abubakar who became the Head of State after the death
of General Sani Abacha, lifted the ban on political activities in preparation to handing
over power to the civilians.

8.9. On May 29th,1999, power was formally handed over to the civilians and the military
once more went back to the barracks. The incoming government removed the embargo
on recruitment which continued until in 2004 when another embargo was placed only
to be lifted in 2006 to date.

9.1 LACK OF TRAINING FACILITIES: The Nigeria Police recruits are undertrained,
underfed, under-accommodated and the training manual is obsolete and inadequate.
The trainers pay more attention to physical training which is nothing but de-humanizing
such that the products are more of brawns than brains. There is nothing intellectual in
their training. The instructors are more knowledgeable in drill than in book learning.
They therefore come out only half-baked and can hardly express themselves in English
which is not taught during the training.

9.2. The recruits hostel accommodation is inadequate and consequently they are congested.
Beds, mattresses, pillows, blankets and mosquito-nets are non-existent. The recruits
sleep crammed on bare floor or they spread cardboards. There is no water, no light and
no enough ventilation for fresh air. There is no library and as such reading culture by the
recruits does not exist; not to talk of television and radio.

26
9.3. The allowances are not only paid as and when due but the recruits are often short
changed in the process. By the time they pass out they are no better than when they
went in and when they are posted out to the states they remain without pay for months
before arrangements are made to transfer their paypoints. In many cases they sleep
outside in the open on arrival at their new stations as they do not have money to pay for
accommodation in the town where in most cases they do not know any body and
further more the police authority does not make any arrangement for assistance. They
are just left to dree in their own weird as there are no barracks or hired quarters for
them.

10.1 LACK OF EQUIPMENT AND ESSENTIAL MATERIALS AT POLICE STATIONS AND OFFICES

The police stations from the divisions to the outposts are dilapidated buildings which
are ill-equipped and congested. It is also true to say that they are bare and in many
cases an eyesore. In most cases they are rented makeshift buildings which are not
designed for use as, police stations. They are located in unsuitable places and the
surroundings are usually filthy and repulsive. The policemen working in them look
dejected and unhappy.

11.1 LACK OF EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION: The policemen on duty of any type are not
supervised because there are no line supervisors whose responsibility it is to see that
the junior ranks are given adequate supervision. This is one of the most glaring faults
with the system. In fact to-days policemen do not fall-in at the station before they are
posted to their respective beats. They are allowed to report for duty to the place of their
postings directly from their homes and when they complete their tour of duty they do
not report back to the station to sign-off. This is one of the greatest lapses in the
administration of police to-day.

12.1 OVER WORKING OF THE POLICE: The rank and file do twelve hour-shift and it is only
the police organization which has longer working hours. In others it is eight hours a day.
The police do not enjoy week-ends. Most of the men and women work seven days a
week, only lucky ones get a day-off not as of right but as a privilege only which can be

27
 denied. In consequence therefore, the policemen are over worked which is undesirable
and they do not get any compensation for it. They do not enjoy annual leave as and
when it is due.

13.1 NO WELFARE: The Nigeria Policemen and women are to all intent and purposes turned
into robots and the system does not allow for welfare consideration of any type, for
instance right from their passing out from the college they are posted without a kobo in
their pockets and they report to the new stations where they will have to look for
accommodation for themselves on individual basis and as they report to their new
stations, they are quickly posted for duty at the same time.

14.1 NO CONSIDERATION FOR STUDY LEAVE: There is no provision for study leave in the
Nigeria Police Force. It is the only organization which does not permit its members to go
on study leave for self-improvement. In the military a soldier can be on study leave to
pursue educational qualification up to the doctorate level. He will be allowed to retain
his quarters for his family while he receives his salary and course allowances. The same
goes for the civil servants but for the police it is always exigencies of the service. This
kind of welfare consideration does not exist in the Nigeria Police Force hence many of
its members miss the opportunity to acquire better educational qualification; technical,
professional or academic which can make them more proficient in their jobs.

15.1 NO LOGISTICAL PLANNING AND BARRACK ACCOMMODATION

Logistical planning is part of everyday life of an organization like the Police Force which
is required to move men and supplies in the event of an emergency. The Police Force
does not possess means of transport and other equipment needed for emergency
operations. Worse still there are no barracks accommodation as such the policemen are
living in rented quarters scattered all about in the area they serve. It is now impossible
to raise a riot unit at once in case of civil disturbance or any other emergency.

28
16.1 NO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM:

From state command headquarters to the outposts in the villages the Nigeria Police
Force has no effective communication system. It depends on the normal land telephone
lines which are not available everywhere and where it exists the lines are always out-
of-order to say the least. The Force does not make use of modern information
technology. The only means they use is the signal system which depends on the Morse
code and on many occasions emergency messages cannot get through due to its traffic
congestions. The system even at that does not cover all the police formations.

17.1 UNNECESSARY FREQUENT TRANSFERS: The authority of the Police Force is in the
habit of frequent and unnecessary transfers to far away places especially members of
the rank and file, where they find themselves strangers due to differences in language,
customs and tradition. These transferees take long time to understand the people in
that area to become effective and efficient in their duties.

18.1 CONVERSATISM AND BUREAUCRACY: The Nigeria Police Force which was
established more than a century ago (1861) is a very conservative organization in
thought and in practice and by its established tradition it does not entertain new or
radical ideas easily. I could remember that in 1983 when I was Commissioner B
Department Operations at the Headquarters, I submitted a paper to the then Inspector-
General for the establishment of an Airport Police Command to be headed by a
Commissioner of Police like the Sea ports authority and Railway Police Commands. The
InspectorGeneral approved it but it did not come to function until recently in 2005.

18.2. In addition to being a conservative organization, it is too bureaucratic because every

little matter has to go into the file and then minuting and counter minuting follows and
in the process many brilliant ideas become mired in the bureaucratic labyrinth where
they eventually get lost. The administrative wheel moves very slowly as there are too
many file-pushers who waste a lot of valuable time writing minutes and memos before a
decision is taken and the implementation of many decisions get hindered through this
cumbersome and outmoded process.
29
18.3. In consequence therefore, the headquarters of all Police formations right from Force
Headquarters to the Outposts, one will find that there are thousands of officers doing
administrative work and if these officers who are engaged in sedentary jobs are to be
posted out in the fields, the force will not run short of manpower. There was a time
when the Force Headquarters had more Commissioners of Police than the total of those
working in the field.

19.1 UNDERSTRENGTH: The Nigeria Police Force is under strength as the United Nations
ratio of policemen to the population is one policeman to four hundred people (1:400).
Nigeria with a population of 150 million people should have at least three hundred and
seventy five thousands policemen and women but in reality despite the regular
recruitments, the strength of the force is not up to half of the prescription because it is
not up to one hundred and fifty thousand now (150,000). This is obviously due to high
turn over as a result of unnecessary and compulsory retirements and instances of
dismissals from the service for one reason or the other.

20.1 INDISCIPLINE: One of the most destructive phenomenon facing the Nigeria Police Force
to-day is the problem of INDISCIPLINE which is palpable and pervasive from top to
bottom. This is not the place to discuss this subject at length as one can write a book on
it but suffice to briefly say that one of the causes of police under performance is due to
the frightening cases of indiscipline because its recruitment policy is manpower-driven
which indiscriminately and continuously recruit all kinds of characters without paying
attention to their antecedents. The force is today harbouring all kinds of shady
characters like drug addicts, mentally deranged and outright criminals with records of
conviction. The superior police officers cadre does not fare any better despite the
apparent improvement in the educational standards.

21.1. LOW PAY: Despite the fact that the Police Force to-day can rightly be said that it
does not deliver considering the general crime rate in the country especially violent
crimes, it is equally right to state that the officers of the force are grossly underpaid.
Considering the risks it takes to be a policeman. It is not easy for one to risk his life in

30
 the discharge of ones duties. An attempt has just been made to improve the pay
position of the members of the force especially the rank and file but there is still room
for improvement. There is need to cushion this pay with other fringe benefits. Those
people who are making comparison of their pay with that of the police are just being
ignorant of the importance of security of life and property which is the centre piece of
life as a whole. The pay system is obviously faulty as the members are not paid salaries
as and when due date and this is a very serious issue which led to strike for the first time
in the history of the Force.

22.1. LOW PRODUCTIVITY: The reasons adduced above and many others which will be
discussed later are responsible for the under performance of the force which is ill-
equipped with low morale.

23.1. BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION: The twin evils of bribery and corruption are endemic and
systemic in the Nigeria Police Force but the phenomenon can not be read out of context
as it must be seen as a national malaise which has defied solution. The members of the
Nigeria Police Force are part and parcel of the Nigerian Society. Bribery and corruption
start from the very beginning of enlistment when one has to bribe his way to get
recruited and so the practice continues throughout ones career until he leaves. There
are very few good officers who have taken a stand against the twin evils.

24.1. DISLOYALTY/DIVIDED LOYALTY: There is growing disloyalty amongst the members

of the force due to many reasons like self-interest which has become the over-riding
consideration in the discharge of ones duties.

25.1 GODFATHERISM, SYCOPHANCY AND FAVOURITISM

The odious practice of Godfatherism, Sycophancy and Favouritism constitutes a triple-

tumour which festers on the body system of the Nigeria Police to-day. This is a system
akinto medieval custom whereby the subordinate officers are divided into two distinct
groups of the good boys and the bad boys in the perception of the superior officers.
Godfatherism is the habit of superior officers who play god on their toads by sponsoring

31
 them. The toads inturn serve the interest of their godfathers and run their personal
errands in lieu of protection. Syncophancy is the practice of adulating, flattering and
boot licking of senior officers by subordinate officers in an effort to receive favours in
form of recognition, protection and preferment. Favouritism means giving credit to
where it does not belong or turning a blind eye to the misdeeds of the favourites who
are lap dogs.

26.1 VICTIMIZATION AND WITCH-HUNTING: While victimization is an act of

mistreatment of a subordinate often by his superior who pursues him like a quarry run
to earth, witch-hunting on the other hand is a campaign usually secretly to denigrate an
officer or a group of officers by somebody above him or them. The objective is always to
destroy or blackmail the victim(s) into submission. Both practices are manifest in the
Nigeria Police Force to-day and are being used to ruin the careers of many good officers.
I was a victim of this practice not because I did something wrong but because I did
everything right. I took an uncompromising stand against bribery and corruption from
the very beginning of my career but because the people in the high up didnt like to give
me credit for it, they made three secret attempts to disprove that stand and one after
the other the attempts by the grace of Allah all failed woefully and in the end the
Inspector-General himself had to confess in a dramic way before all the Senior Officers
in my Command that he and his men have failed and he therefore begged me to pardon
him because he said that he was misinformed about me. He even said that if he had four
other Commissioners with me to make five, he would have a sound sleep. However
when the opportunity came, my name was on top of the list of those on compulsory
retirement. I did not protest because I knew who was behind it and I did not want to
compromise on my stand because it is a personal choice and I was therefore prepared
to suffer for it as I submit to the will of God. It was a classic case. It is just for the records
for posterity and the researchers.

32
 EXTERNAL CAUSES (IMMEDIATE):

27.1 UNDER FUNDING: The most critical situation in the Nigeria Police to-day is its under
funding by the policy of benign neglect of the authority. The Nigeria Police Force is
grossly under funded to the extent that the members have to buy some items of
uniform for themselves hence they are under paid, ill-provided, ill-equipped, ill-trained
but overworked. And when they leave the job, they do not have Second hand value,
else where as the government does not make use of their invaluable professional
experiences but only called upon them like Fire Brigade when the need arises to use and
dump. It is unbelievable to hear that the authority has virtually handed over the funding
of the Nigeria Police Force, the centre piece of internal security, to charity of private
collections and donations from other non-governmental organizations.

28.1 POLITICAL INTERFERENCE: The Nigeria Police Force is not allowed a free hand to act
in accordance with its operational laws and regulations but must dance to the tune of
the politicians who appoint its head not on the basis of merit but on some other
extraneous considerations. This fact is illustrated in the recent past where three
Inspectors-General, all of doubtful merit and competence were appointed and one after
the other they all proved to be below the required standard and as such they never
delivered but left in disgrace. Many other officers suffer similar fates especially the
Commissioners of Police in the states and the Divisional Police Officers (DPO) in the local
governments, who are tossed about from one place to another on transfer at the
instances of the Chief Executives of the respective states.

29.1 THE RELATIONSHIP WITH MINISTRY OF JUSTICE:

The symbiotic relationship between the Ministry of Justice and the Police on many
occasions leaves much to the desired. While police detectives will be trying to assemble
all pieces of evidence to ensure watertight case against a suspect, the Ministry of Justice
will have to examine the pieces of evidence critically to ensure that there is no missing-
link to create loop hole for the suspect to escape justice. During this process serious
delays are caused often to the extent that good cases are lost. The Attorney-General has
33
 power to prosecute or not to prosecute a case and he can enter. Nolle prosequi to stop
the prosecution at any stage of the proceedings. Suspects or their attorneys find their
way into the ministry to interfere with cases.

30.1 THE JUDICIARY: Justice delayed is justice denied and equally justice rushed is
justice denied these should be the guiding principles of the police, the legal and the
judicial officers. The judicial officers can make or mar police cases once the suspect is
arraigned before the court. The criminal justice system in Nigeria is the source of
complaint by members of the public who are on the receiving end as they get locked up
in prison as awaiting trial. This is one of the greatest charges against the Nigeria Police
Force as a whole. Seventy percent of the prisoners are said to be awaiting trial. Many
innocent people are languishing in jails all over the country as awaiting trial.

31.1 THE MILITARY; The military interregnum over decades is largely responsible for
the plight of the Nigeria Police Force to-day because of the basic policy of the military to
treat the police with cruel neglect while its leaders accepted the situation with cold
complaisance and indifference. The physical and psychological blows which the police
received constantly from the military has no doubt left the organization in fetters and in
tatters. One can recall the first military coup which was started in Kaduna where the
leader of the coup with his gun in hand went looking for the then Commissioner of
Police only God knew what would have happened if he had found him.

In subsequent coups it was the same story that it was the police who would fall the first
victim of the soldiers action. Consequently many police officers were killed in this way
and many police stations were overrun by the army boys and because the military were
in power nothing happened to the culprits. They always get away with it.

The military made sure that the police were short of funds in order to cripple its
activities and render it inefficient and ineffective. The military always returned to their
policy of maintaining parity but in actual fact what the military were doing was
maintaining an inverse ratio between the two organizations.

34
32.1 REMOTE CAUSES

33.1 The Nigerian Press: The Nigerian press which is too sensation-oriented, seems to be
always at war with the police such that it is looking for faults of the police in order to
portray them in bad light to the members of the public for ridicule.

34.1 The Members of the Public: To the members of the public the Nigeria police Force is a
cause celebre and the national whipping boy such that the organization has developed a
siege-mentality.

35.1 The Global Village: The world has become a global village due to the use of
information technology. The days of round-the-world-in-eighty days are gone instead it
is now round-the-world-in-eight minutes in the internet which has three faces; the
good, the bad and the ugly ie advantages and disadvantages. Computer Science is the
20th century revolution and has tremendous effect for good or for bad on the world and
the society at large, irrespective of where one lives. Every day millions of crimes are
committed through the computer. Nothing has contributed to the commission of crime
than the computer on the internet. It is a ready tool in the hands of the criminals.

36.1 Other Electronic Gadgets: The radio, the television and now the mobile phones have
great influence on human activities. A crime may be committed in New York now and
the next minute its details are seen and heard in Nigeria.

37.1 Mass Mobility: The car, the plane, the ship and the rail make mass movements of
people from one place to the other very easy. One can take ones break-fast in one
country and before lunch time one will be in another country far away from ones home.
Millions of people travel from one place to another without let or hindrance.

38.1 General: The analysis given above is far from being exhaustive but it is sufficient to
illustrate the point as to the causes for unsatisfactory performance of the Nigeria Police
Force. It must however, be acknowledged that the rise in crime wave is a global
phenomenon and therefore every country is affected, take for instance the problem of
drugs which circulate round the world despite all the worlds security agents of all the

35
 countries. One may also commit murder in Alaska, United States and within hours he
will in Siberia, Russia.

39.1 THE EFFECT: The prime duty of preventing the commission of crime and
detecting it has remained elusive to the Nigeria Police Force due to a synergy of factors
as analysed above. The country as a whole seems to be under the siege of the criminals
who appear to have snatched the initiative from the Police and are free to carry out
their nefarious activities in any part of the country and at any time they choose without
any fear of being caught. The quality of the police preventive as well as detective
measures has fallen short of expectation. The holistic effect of these factors
undoubtedly is that the Nigeria Police Force of to-day is in fetters and in tatters and
therefore is unable to discharge its prime duty of prevention and detection of crime.

40.1 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS: However, by comparison the performance of the Nigeria

Police Force is no worse than that of many of the countrys functional organizations like
the Nigerian engineers who allow buildings to collapse and kill innocent people or the
Nigerian Doctors who have become the merchants of death on theatre operating table
or the electricity engineers whose eleptic light flickers on and off every now and then,
putting many parts of the country in total darkness or the water engineers who run the
pumps dry and the citizens have to resort to the use of the primitive well water. The list
is endless but suffice to illustrate the point that service delivery system in the country is
far from being satisfactory in all sectors hence the travail of the nation. Bribery and
corruption in all their ramifications have reduced this country to primitive level and are
the main obstacles on the way to progress and meaningful development.

41.1 RESCUE MISSION: This paper has highlighted the main causes of the laclustre
performance of the Nigeria Police. The list is far from being exhaustive but suffice to
illustrate the point. It is therefore condign to prescribe a remedy in order to re-order
the Nigeria Police Force: -

36
42.1 Review the Laws: It is necessary to review the laws which are the working tools of
any law enforcement agent in order to bring them up to date as to strengthen the hands
of the police: -

42.2 The Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code. These laws operate in the southern
part of the country and it is essential to review them in order to bring them up to date
because they have been in operation for a long time without review for amendments.

42.3 The Penal Code and Penal Code Procedure: These are applicable in the northern part of
the country since in the fifties and should therefore be reviewed.

43.1 Police Act and Regulations: - In addition, the Police Act should equally be reviewed as
some of its sections are obsolete. There is need to bring them up-to-date and also insert
new sections which will further enhance efficiency of the organization.

44.1 Miscellaneous Act: These laws are colonial-oriented like dogs licence, liquor licence
and sale, children and young persons act, personal fire arms and many others should be
reviewed especially children and young persons act in view of the rampant stealing,
missing, enslaving and murder of children.

45.1 Nigeria Police Training Manual: There is dearth in books for training purposes. At
the moment there is only a single book called the Training Manual which is being used
for all purposes of training of recruits, non-commissioned officers and inspectors. This is
an improvised document by the initiative of the first Commandant of Police College,
Enugu since 1976. The book has never been officially approved. Howbeit, it is now the
only available document for training in all the training colleges. It is high time it is
critically examined thoroughly as there are many defects and mistakes in the book and it
is out of date. It is just being duplicated to be distributed to the recruits and other NCOs
on course. It is type-written not printed and it did not receive Inspectors-General
approval or the Training Department of the police. It was out of the initiative of a one
time Commandant of Police College, Enugu, that the book was produced.

37
46.1 Purge of Unwanted Servicemen & Women: It is unfortunate that to-day the Nigeria
Police Force is harbouring many undesirable elements whose continued stay in the
Force is a total liability and therefore dragging the name of the organization into the
mud. They include, outright criminals, the drug-addicts, incorrigibly indisciplined,
alcoholics, educationally handicapped, physically and mentally challenged, incurably
diseased, unproductive etc. An honest to goodness purge must take place to get rid of
these unwanted elements but this time around it must be done by a constituted
authority in each of the commands in order to avoid cases of unfair treatment and
victimization. The exercise should be sustainable to be repeated periodically.

47.1 Provision of Funds: The Nigeria Police Force is an unsophisticated organization in that
it is manpower-driven. Efforts must be made now to change this practice and make it
capital-intensive. The Federal Government, the states and local governments should be
called upon by a Presidential Fiat to share the running cost. At the moment it is well
known that both the state and local governments are making contributions but this is
voluntary and sometimes with strings attached. What is suggested here is that Federal
Government contributes 70%, state government contributes 20% while local
governments contribute 10%. A law to give this proposal an effect should be enacted by
all the legislatures of the three tiers of governments. This should be subject to review
from time to time and the amount agreed should be deducted from the source and
made available to the police.

48.1 Barracks and Police Buildings: The Federal Government must embark on massive
building of barracks, police stations and other necessary structures. The Government
should make enormous funds available continuously for a period of at least ten years
until the deficiencies are corrected in all the nocks and cranny of this country. The
policemen and women should live in the barracks where they will be available for any
emergency duties and for discipline too.

49.1 Uniform: The present uniform of the police must be changed at once for many
reasons. One, the black colour of the uniform is unattractive and consequently makes

38
 the sight of a policemen repulsive to the eye as a Blackman wearing a black dress.
Added to this, that any body who had chosen this colour of the uniform must be
ignorant of elementary science which says that black colour is a good conductor of heat
and therefore when the men and women are out there in the dead of heat of the sun
overhead, it affects their performance as their bodies will be absorbing the heat from
the hot uniforms. Two, the colour of the uniform must be changed to an attractive
colour which will make them look smart and attractive as to create good impression on
the members of the public. A policeman is the friend of the people and so his uniform
should be colour-friendly.

50.1 Monetary Incentives: This is an age of monetization in Nigeria and as such the Nigeria
Police Force should be made to benefit from the provision. Fringe benefits should be
created to encourage the toiling men and women in this service, like arrest of robbers,
assassination and dangerous murderer should attract payment of money to whoever is
involved, together with consideration for promotion.

51.1 Study Leave: In order to get the best out of the serving men and women, it is
necessary to encourage them to go back to school in order to improve themselves
educationally. This aspect of study leave should be allowed to any member who is
qualified, thus giving them opportunity in line with their counter parts in the military
and civil services. A fixed percentage of the units strength can be approved to avoid
absence of large number as to affect the efficiency of the unit.

52.1 Communication: One of the most disappointing aspect in the police is the lack of
reliable communication system. The only means in use at the formations is the land line
telephone which is in most cases out-of-order almost perpetually. The Nigeria Police
Force should introduce the use of the computer on the internet with web site so that
every police formation should be on line and in addition mobile phones shall be made
available.

53.1 Create Crime Courts: In order to speed up the disposal of criminal cases, the Federal as
well as the states should establish crime courts which will handle all the police cases and
39
 these courts should be designated as such from the area courts, to Magistrate Courts
and High Courts. The judicial officers posted to man these courts should not be engaged
in any other duty but to try criminal cases only.

54.1 State Counsels: In the Ministry of Justice from the Federal and the States there should
be State Counsels designated for prosecution of criminal cases only and should not be
given any other assignment.

55.1 Create Criminal Justice System Forum: The police prosecutors, the State Criminal
Cases Counsels and the Criminal Courts Magistrates and Judges should meet periodically
to review the situation and to iron out their differences instead of accrimonious
utterances sometimes in Courts which is most undesirable and embarrassing.

56.0 Re-Structure the Police Force: The present Police Force is too large to be
commanded efficiently by a single person sitting in far away Abuja. There is need
therefore to divide the country into four police regions or groups of nine states each: -

56.1 North-West Region: Comprising Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi,
Niger, Kogi and Abuja FCT with headquarters in Kaduna or Kano.

56.2 North-Eastern Region: Comprising Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba,
Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa with headquarters in Jos or Bauchi.

56.3 South-Western Region: Comprising Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Oshun, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Delta
and Edo States with headquarters in Lagos or Ibadan.

56.4 South-Eastern Region: Comprising Enugu, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, Imo, Abia,
Cross River, Akwa Ibom with headquarters at Enugu or Port Harcourt.

Each of these four regions is to be headed by no less than a Deputy-Inspector-General

and that the regions should be autonomous such that they can operate almost freely
except where Federal Government Policy is concerned which will be co-ordinated by the
Inspector-General of Police in Abuja.

40
57.0 Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D): In view of the expansion of the force and
the rising crime rate in the country, it is suggested that the department of the C.I.D be
separated from the uniform section of the police to be made an independent
organization entirely like the State Security Service and the head of this organization
should be equivalent to a Deputy Inspector-General of Police. The idea is to leave the
uniform police with the preventive duties, maintenance and enforcement of law and
order. The newly created organization will takeover the responsibility of crime detection
solely and the prosecution of offenders before the courts. It should be given the name
of NATIONAL CRIME INVESTIGATION DIRECTORATE with NACID as its acronym or
NATIONAL CRIME DIRECTORATE or some other appropriate name which will be easy to
remember by the members of the public-a catchy name. It should be under the Federal
Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General should direct its activities.

58.0 Classify the States According to Crime Rate: The thirty six states and Abuja
should be appropriately classified in accordance with the crime rate in their respective
cities. The most heavily crime infested cities will be designated as the CRIME BLACK
SPOTS cities viz, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano and Abuja. These should be given special
attention at all times and periodical raid, search and arrest should be organized by a
combined task force from chosen states to descend on one at a time by the order of the
Inspector-General only. The raid should be designated as Inspector-General Special
Operation. The task force should be commanded by the Commanding Officer of the area
and it will stay there until the city and its environs are cleared of all the criminals. The
Inspector-General will then select another crime black spot for similar operation. It will
be done in rotation.

58.1 As the arrests are made, the suspects should be handed over to the team of detectives
from NACID of different states for investigation and prosecution.

58.2 The next group of states cities of less criminal activities will be designated as RED
CRIME SPOT cities. These are Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan, Jos, Onitsha, Owerri, and
Yonogua.

41
58.3 The rest of the states will be so classified. The idea of classifying the cities is to know
how much attention will be given to each of these cities and further more in posting of
Commissioners of Police, consideration should be taken in choosing the calibre of the
officer to be posted there. In addition, special allowances like hard lining, information
fund should be created to be given to Commissioners incharge of difficult states. It will
not be fair for instance to rate the Commissioner of Police incharge of Lagos or Rivers
states the same with a Commissioner of Police incharge of say, Yobe or Taraba or Ekiti
or Akwa-Ibom states where almost nothing spectacular happens.

58.4 Lagos and River States should be commanded by an Assistant-Inspector-General and

then there will be a number of Deputy Commissioners incharge of certain areas like
Lagos, Ikeja, Victoria Island to include Ikoyi and the main land to include Yaba, Ebute-
Matta and Surulere should be headed by Deputy Commissioners with full powers to
fight crime.

59.0 Specialization in Major and Violent Crimes: Time it is for the preventive as well as the
detective sections of the Nigeria Police Force to learn to specialize in combating certain
major and violent crimes so that their prevention and detection will be easy. Their areas
too will be identified for instance in Lagos, the main criminal group is that of the Area
Boys who are mainly engaged in robberies, assassinations, political thuggery and
murders. In Port Harcourt or Rivers and Bayelsa states their criminal activities centre on
kidnapping, oil-pipeline vandalization, bunkering and high seas piracy. In most of the
southern states there are robberies, assassination, human trafficking and frauds of
419. In Kaduna, robberies and religious crimes are rampant. In Kano, it is Yandaba
and their dare-devil activities of robberies, assassination and political thuggery.

60.0 EXPAND TRAINING PERIOD: The present six months period for recruit basic training
and the one month refresher course for the Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) are
considered too short to enable the trainees in both cases come out competent police
officers well grounded in police duties and very sound in law, tactics and techniques of

42
 combating crime. It is therefore essential future police courses from recruits level to
superior police officers should include the following: -

60.1 Forensic Science: The teaching of basic elementary science in relevant subjects of
biology, chemistry and physics as they relate to evidence collection for forensic science
laboratory and the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) especially in cases of murder
investigation.

60.2 Establish more forensic laboratories: At the moment there is only one science
laboratory for such scientific examinations of evidence, in Lagos. In view of increased
cases of murder and assassinations, it is necessary to establish one fully equipped
forensic science laboratory in each of the four proposed regional commands.

60.3 English Language: At the moment English which is the Nigerian official
language is not taught in the Police Training Colleges. In view of its importance and
relevance, its necessary to include it in the teaching curriculae especially at the recruit
level. The recruits and NCOs English should be raised to GCE level and passing it in the
final examination should be made compulsory. The aim is to improve both spoken and
written English of the policemen and women as their duties make them in contact with
the members of the public including foreigners.

60.4 Physical Training in Unarmed Combat: Every policemen and woman should receive
training in unarmed combat like boxing, wrestling, judo, karate and takwando. These
exercises are very relevant to Police Officers in view of the changing tactics of the
criminals.

60.5 Computer Literacy: All police trainees at all levels should be computer literate and
should be able to browse on the internet using the Google Search engine apart from the
ability to type on the computer. They should be conversant with all aspects of
information technology on the computer.

60.6 Police Printing Press: The Nigeria Police Force should have a full-fledged printing press
of its own at the Force Headquarters.

43
60.7 Firearms Training: The present situation with regard to firearms training in the
Nigeria Police Force is pathetic to say the least as thousands of the recruits being turned
out had never fired a shot before they are posted out on completion of the course. In
most cases there is no ammunition to use for firearms training and added to this is the
fact that the State Commands do not have shooting ranges. This is one of the reasons
why there are so many cases of accidental discharge of bullets often with fatal
consequences. A provision must be made for each of the State Commands to have a
shooting range at which each member can have an annual shooting practice and his
score be recorded.

61.0 CONCLUSION: This submission cannot be complete without the mention of the factors
whose synergy has formed the centrifugal force which has devastated the Nigeria Police
Force and has now left it in shackles and in shambles: -

61.1 Bribery and Corruption: The twin evils of bribery and corruption have to be
revisited here because they are the national canker worm which have eaten deep into
its fabric and have defied cure. Bribery and corruption in all their ramifications are
systemic and endemic in the Nigerian Social system and an under-development
phenomena which reveal lack of faith of the people who only pay lip service to their
religious, ethical and moral codes. However the most disturbing aspect of the practice is
the unprecedented political corruption in the country. If the leadership of the political
parties can consciously preside over a meeting to allocate bribe money to all security
agents to help them win elections without any compunction or qualms or to organize
massive rigging of elections by snatching, stuffing or hiding ballot boxes or to inflate the
votes cast, no body in his rightful frame of mind should shed tears when nemesis
catches up with such leadership. This is the real challenge of the national conscience of
this country. This evil practice must be fought to a standstill if the nation is to move
forward.

61.2 Law and Order: Truth and justice form the solid foundation for law and order. The
fact is that there is no truth, not to speak of justice in the system and so there is always

44
 difficulty in keeping law and order because the law does not rule in this country.
Everybody feels he is above the law. Without allowing the law to rule, maintenance of
order will remain a mirage.

61.3 Leadership: The principle of leadership by example is not practiced in this country. It
is always the leaders who will first break the law with impunity. If all the leaders in
whatever capacity, live by example this country will be miles ahead by now. There are
very bad leaders who lead from the rear when it comes to exemplary behaviour.
61.4 In the Nigeria Police Force, many of the leaders found themselves just in the position of
leadership but they do not possess any qualities of leadership. They are just there
because of some extraneous considerations or their ability to manoeuvre and
manipulate the system to come on top. There are even some leaders who resort to
medieval use of the sourcerers in juju, Babalawo and Mallams to cast spell on their
assumed enemies and spur them to achievements. These leaders when they reach the
top, they do not have anything better to offer to the system except their inordinate
ambition. All these primitive beliefs and practices are products of lack of self-confidence
and lack of faith in ones religion.
61.5 However, you can change the system but can you change the people?
62.0 HIGHLIGHTS OF RECOMMENDATIONS AT A GLANCE.
62.1 Prioritize the Nigeria Police Force as a permanent policy and give Internal Security the
pride of place it deserves in order to restore its primacy.
62.2 Change the Nigeria Police concept from a labour-intensive to capital intensive
organization by making available special fund allocations for priority projects.
62.3 EXCISE C.I.D from uniform police and make it a directorate a separate and
independent entity to be called the National Crime Investigation Directorate with the
acronym of NACID in the model of S.S.S and to be established nationwide with an
officer of the rank of IGP as its head.
62.4 Create Crime Courts: at Federal and State levels to handle criminal cases only-Area
Courts, Magistrate Courts and High Courts.

45
62.5 Re-Structure the Nigeria Police Force: Into FOUR police territories/provinces of
nine states each, autonomous and each to be headed by a D.I.G.
62.6 North-West Territory: Comprising Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina,
Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Zamfara and Sokoto -headquarters Kano.
62.7 North-East Territory: Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Benue, Plateau
and Nasarawa with headquarters at Bauchi or Jos.
62.8 South-West Territory: Delta, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Oshun, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, and
Edo States with headquarters at Lagos or Ibadan.

62.9 South-Eastern Territory: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Cross
River, Imo and Rivers with headquarters at Enugu or Port Harcourt.

63.0 REVIEW THE WORKING TOOLS OF THE POLICE:

63.1 Police Act and Regulations
63.2 Penal Code and Procedure
63.3 Criminal Code and Procedure
63.4 Miscellaneous Acts
63.5 The Nigeria Police Training Manual
64.0 Embark on massive barracks and other building structures
65.0 Computer Literacy and Use: all police formations to be on line and use internet,
website and E mail address. All policemen and women to be Computer Literate.
66.0 CLASSIFY States according to crime rate in the area.
67.0 Change the Uniform
68.0 Expand Training Period from 6months to 9months to include computer, forensic science,
English language and physical training to include unarmed combat skills.

69.0 Establish Police Printing Press

70.1 Merger: EFCC, ICPC AND NACID consideration should be given to merge the three
organizations to take advantage of the economy of scale.
M.A KURFI
CP(RTD)

46
 PART TWO
A

ORIENTATION LECTURES: POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS, BAUCHI LECTURE BY MR. M. A. KURFI, DEPUTY

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, BAUCHI STATE COMMAND ON 16TH NOVEMBER, 1981

TITLE: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POLICE AND STUDENTS

VENUE: FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, BAUCHI

DATE: 16/11/81 TIME: 0900HRS
It is indeed a great pleasure and an esteemed honour to be invited as a Policeman to be here this
morning to deliver a speech to the fresh students of this institution. The fact that I am standing here before
you not in riot gear with a slinging gun but in the normal Policeman's working dress has two very significant
aspects. Firstly, it is a testimony to the fact that peace reigns supreme in this institution and that cordial
relationship subsists between the Bauchi State Police Command and the Authority of this institution.
Secondly, it marks a turning point in that the academic Nigeria has at last come to recognise the importance
- nay the necessity of working hand-in-gloves with the law enforcement agents for the maintenance of law
and order on the campuses of our institutions of higher learning. This realism is suggestive of a new thinking
of the administrators of our institutions of higher learning. No doubt, this new approach to the problem of
campus un-rest, is greatly welcome as it is bound to have a profound effect on our relationship. It is the first
concrete step to be taken by the institution's authority to establish a rapport between the police and our
institutions of higher learning. Perhaps the period of name calling is over or at least it is on the wane. On
this score therefore, I am here to re-assure both the authority and the students of this institution that we
intend by the grace of God to keep our part of the bargain and as such we need the support, understanding
and co-operation of all well-meaning members of the staff as well as you, the students, without which our
efforts will be an exercise in futility. We seem to appreciate the fact that we all have a stake in this society
and it will not be in anybody's interest to try to rock the boat.
2. The theme of my lecture this morning as aptly chosen for me by the
authority is The relationship between the Police and Students. I must at
this juncture seize this opportunity to thank the Rector for choosing this
subject for me because I could not have picked a more suitable subject

47
than this one which gives me the opportunity to put a search light into the
relationship between the Police and the Students but before I delve into
this, I would like to put certain facts straight. As freshers, I have a feeling
that you must have come with a lot of ideas about the life in the institutions
of higher learning in this country. Some of these ideas may not be correct
while others may be vague and ill-defined. However, the importance of
this orientation course I believe is both to brief and de-brief you so that by
the end of the exercise it is hoped, you will have been properly licked into
shape ready to commence your academic pursuit in search of the Golden
Fleece. In this regard I will like you to realise that your stepping into this
institution has changed your studentship status that is from Secondary to
Tertiary. In fact this is the acme of the institution of Learning. When you
were in Secondary Schools and other similar institutions, you were
considered as children but now having graduated into this institution
which is considered at par with a University, you can no longer hide under
the cover of being children. At best you are young men and women coming
into adulthood. The law will therefore hold you responsible for any of your
acts or omissions. The society will also look up to you with more expectation
than before and that there is need for you to re-appraise the situation in
order to appreciate your present position in the eyes of the law and the
societal scheme of things. I am sure the Rector must have told you that life
in the institution of higher learning does not mean running around and
playing the fool. It means real hard work in order to justify the enormous
financial investments the Governments in this country are making on you.
As leaders of tomorrow, the society will look at you with a critical eye un-
like before as you will now have a more prominent role to play in our
society than before.
3. I will now turn to the main theme of my lecture. The relationship
between the Police and Students generally is dictated by mutual suspicion,

48
mistrust and misunderstanding as we often find ourselves at cross-purposes
in pursuit of our different objectives. While the students feel that they have
the freedom to do as they like, when they like and how they like and so
they must be permitted to organise strikes, conduct protest marches and
carry out demonstrations. The Police on the hand have the responsibility of
maintaining law and order. This is where our basic difference lies hence the
misunderstanding, the suspicion and the mutual mistrust especially when
the Students adopt a defiant or militant attitude with violent and
destructive tendencies. The Police will not fold their hands and watch the
Students carry out wanton destruction of life and property. It is here where
the battle lines are drawn and the stage is set for confrontation and at times
violent clashes with nasty consequences on both sides. The result of such
confrontations and clashes leaves a very sour memory and strained
relationship. However, I am glad to say that of recent there has been
noticeable improvement in our relationship with regards to this institution
in particular. For instance our records show that the last major un-rest took
place in April, 1980. Since then things appear to have improved
tremendously as far as Students activities are concerned. In fact this year
right from its beginning, the atmosphere has been so peaceful to the extent
that we were not aware when the last session came to an end. I must say it
was an admirable record and I hope that you, new comers will endeavour to
make your contribution towards maintaining the status quo. Perhaps a lot
of the misunderstanding is generated by the communication gap which
hither-to exists but under the present arrangement where such a forum is
created to meet and listen to each other's view, there is hope that we will
get to know ourselves better and appreciate our different positions. When
mistakes do occur as they are bound to, on both sides, we will be in a better
position to understand the reasons why they occur and hopefully each
others re-action to the given situation will not be emotional. Students

49
must get out of the habit of adopting the culture of militancy and
confrontation which is becoming, a bit old fashioned as they were a fad in
the sixties, but had faded away during the seventies and have therefore
nothing to do with the eighties. In other words, the atmosphere which
warranted such behaviour by the students in those days of political
emancipation, no longer exists to-day and so it will be a retrogressive act, to
call back those years. What is in vogue to-day, is negotiation. I therefore
recommend to you the mastery of the art of peaceful negotiations. It is
often said that it is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war. It is necessary you
eschew a situation of brinkmanship because nothing comes out of violence
which is self- destructive. The country is yours, the institution is yours and
the equipment also, then in the name of Allah, why do you have to destroy
them! The Police are there to protect you, so it is in your own interest to
take them into confidence whenever you intend to embark on any strike,
boycott of classes, protest marches or demonstration. When you are
advised that the atmosphere is not conducive to carry out any of your
activities you should accept the advice of the Police in good faith because in
the long run you will discover that it is in your own interest to take such
advice.
4. I have outlined above the probable areas which tend to mar the
relationship between the Police and the Students. This talk will therefore be
incomplete if a brief study of the causes of Students' un-rest in our
institutions of higher learning is not made. As you know there may be a
hundred and one reasons, which may conduce to Students disturbances,
however, it is only sensible to confine myself to those ones which have
been identified as the regular causes. In this wise, I have decided to divide
them into two categories - that is immediate and remote causes. These are:-

Immediate or Direct Causes

(a) Student Union Activities - At the inception of the academic session,

50
 the Students will organise an electioneering campaign culminating
into the election of their officials who will run their Union for the
duration of the session. These union officials whose minds had
already been distended with stories of what their predecessors had
done and their achievements, wanted to do something in order to
measure up and escape the wrath of and the condemnation by their
colleagues as do nothing union. It is in an effort to prove their
worth that the Students' leadership triggers off an un-happy situation
because they will have to go to town finding faults with the authority,
in order to provide the excuse for embarking on demonstration. On
other occasions it is evil communication from sister institution which
causes disturbances, when the students union leadership allows itself
to be used as tool by another usually with a hidden motive. You will
not allow yourself to wear a spotless armour for a wrong cause. This
does happen on many occasions.
(b) Religious or Sectarian Activities: Religious fanatics do create havoc
in our institutions of higher learning. They abound in this country and
they ardently believe that one of the fertile grounds where to
propagate their faith are the institutions of learning where the
receptive minds of the Students can easily be subverted. These
Student- converts adopt a militant attitude in the belief that they are
waging a JIHAD.
(c) Mismanagement or Administrative Neglect by Institution's
Authority: When the authority of the institution refuses or neglects
to respond to the yearnings of the Students because its attention is
diverted to the pursuit of private interests, the Students will
obviously resort to their last line of defence i.e., demonstration
which invariably gets out of control. Some authorities of our
institutions are on many occasions found guilty of mismanagement.

51
 They throw away the rules of ethics and deceive themselves in the
belief that no one knows what they are doing. They feel that because
they are at the helm of affairs they are entitled to convert the
Government Office into a private business for which all profit accrues
to them and the immediate members of their families only.
(d) Students' Idleness - When the young mind is not fully occupied with
something good, it goes astray and think of evil things. One finds that
when there are no sufficient materials and equipment to meet the
adequate need of the Students, they remain idle most of the time.
This is dangerous. There are many reasons for this kind of situation
but suffice it to say that either the institution has not been sufficiently
funded or when the money is provided it finds its way into private
pockets. Incidentally, I happened to investigate a criminal case at one
of the institutions of higher learning where a member of the staff - a
woman for that matter fraudulently converted over one hundred
thousand naira from the institution's coffers to her and her
accomplices' own use.
(e) Feeding Arrangement and Accomodation: One of the subjects on
which the students re-act emotionally, and I do not blame them for that, is
the question of feeding and accommodation. The over-worked adage
says a hungry man is an angry man. It is obvious that the Students
sometimes get a raw deal on their feeding due to some vested
interests. It is advisable that the authority pays attention to this
potential cause of trouble on the campus. The authority should learn
to cut its coat according to its cloth. If your funds can only feed and
accommodate 50 students only it will be un-wise and risky to admit
100 students, while in another there are 80 students and you feel you
must surpass him by sheer number.

52
(f) Communication Gap - The communication channel between the
Students and the authority is sometimes kept in-operative because the
leadership of the institution adopts the attitude that it has no time for
these small boys and girls and as such it refuses to listen to their
complaints. The line of communication has to remain open and be kept
effective in order to avoid nasty reactions. Open dialogue with the
Students and explain the situation to then.
(g) INDISCIPLINE - It must be accepted that one of the most serious causes
of disturbances in our institutions of higher learning in this country is
INDISCIPLINE in our society. It cannot be said twice over that the
Nigerian Society requires many doses of discipline. Discipline, be it of
the mind, self, academic, moral or national, is undoubtedly the sine quo
non' for any orderly and peaceful development in a society. However, it
is painful to admit that our present day society is indisciplined. It does
not matter at which stratum of the society you look, high or low, rich or
poor, young or old, men or women, educated or un-educated, you will
see indiscipline running right through like a thread. Indiscipline has
been and still is the bane of our society. It has become the canker worm
which has eaten deep into the fabric of our society. It seem to me as if
everybody is in a great rush only to take all he can out of the society
without putting back anything. Our main pursuit to-day is epicurism and
hedonism, Our Traditional African Cultural values have not only been
corrupted but- inverted. Our love for the foreign values is so glaring in
our taste for food, dress, speech, thought and even mannerism. The
time honoured African values have been thrown over board and are
thus being re-placed by the exotic preferences. In the course of this re-
placement, 'we do nothing but aping without understanding. I can
remember when I was a Student of History and in one of the off-hand
tests, the History Master asked us to write down both the good and the

53
bad effects of the coming of the white man to Africa. In my answer
which contained more bad than good effects, I had this one, copying
without understanding. It is also due to our lack of self and national
discipline that we have our people thrown into various jails in the
United Kingdom, West Germany, Italy, United States of America and a
host of other countries. INDISCIPLINE, Ladies and Gentlemen, is our
number one national malaise. Here at home, one finds that we make
laws not to obey them but to circumvent them while they remain on
our statute books for decoration and self-deceit it is so disturbing that
some of the newspapers have decided in the spirit of national re-
awaking to embark on campaign. For instance I have noticed that the
New Nigerian has put out a small inscription at the back page of the
paper thus Take your turn in that queue and you will save yourself and
the nation a lot of time. The Daily Times of Nigeria has a similar one
on cleanliness thus Help keep your surroundings clean. Your nation
will then be a better place and yourself healthier. This is how it should
be and I may add that unless we start thinking how to halt this un-
wholesome trend our great country will lose its pride of place. We must
start by developing self-discipline first on which to build national
discipline, national commitment and national patriotism. We must
acquire and nurture NATIONALISM. I will give an example of nationalism.
I read from a book about American Nationalism that there was a time
when one of the top ranking journalists in that country was invited by
the State Department to participate in a very secret and delicate
negotiation on a sensitive issue with a foreign country. The man
accepted the invitation and participated fully to the successful
conclusion of the talks but while he did that his newspaper did not hear
about it at all because he owed it a duty to his nation not to reveal it
and so he did not! Ladies and Gentlemen, to come back to the issue,

54
 indiscipline has something to do with the disturbances on the campuses
and a lot more.
5. Now, let me examine the remote or indirect causes of the students' un-
rest. These are:-
a. Internal Feud Among the Academic Staff - This is often caused by a
leadership which has become insensitive to the feeling of its sub-
ordinate members. It is natural for someone to start scheming and
eventually, the house becomes divided among itself. On other occasions
you find rivalry, greed, disloyalty and ethnicity being responsible for
brewing trouble on the campuses. During the course of these squabbles
fiendish efforts will be made to draw the students into the divisive
vortex in order to win their support and sympathy. They will thereby be
instigated against the authority of the institution as they will be fed with
distorted information prepared for such purpose to produce the desired
effect. Unless the authority is perceptive, to nip it in the bud, the
campus will be set on fire. The authority should quickly take stock of the
situation and act with despatch and precision.
(b) External Forces - This type of influence is the most dangerous in our institutions of higher learning
because the forces may either be foreign or indigenous. They normally carry out their clandestine
recruitment through the members of the staff of the institution or through the leadership of the
students' union. They use money galore and other perquisites including foreign travels and
scholarships for further studies over-seas. There are four identified aims and objectives of these
forces; Politics, Religion, Subversion and Sabotage
(c) Students as Social Deviants or Academic Misfits - There are certain students who since their
childhood have been mischievous and trouble makers. They should be identified at once as social
deviants and appropriate action be taken to pre-empt their destructive intentions. There are also
academic misfits. They just do not possess the grey matter sufficiently to carry them through but by
the grace of the faulty system they have been able to gain admission into the institution. They will
naturally start making trouble when examinations are near at hand because they know perfectly well

55
 they can neither pass them nor have the chance to cheat. The only way out for them is to cause
disruption so that in the end no one sits for the examination.
6. I have spoken sufficiently about the Students, the causes for their un-rest and the areas of conflict in
our relationship. I will therefore enlighten you more about the duties and responsibilities of the Nigeria
Police Force as a law enforcement agency. Section 194 of the Presidential Constitution of Nig 1979,
establishes the Force and in Section 195(3) and (4), it is stated that the President in the case of the Inspector-
General of Police or the Governor of a State in respect of a Commissioner of Police, shall give such instruction
with respect to the maintenance of public safety and public order. In a nut shell these are our responsibilities
and as the campuses are concerned, any disturbance there-in, the police will only come to quell it at the
invitation of the constituted authority but once the trouble is outside the perimeter of the institution
concerned, the Police will not have to wait for any invitation before taking appropriate action. In this regard I
will like to point out that in the course of taking such action, mistakes as pointed out else-where in this
speech, are likely to occur on both sides, but when they do, condemnation is not the best answer to it but
prompt report to the appropriate authority. It is advisable for the students to eschew provocative utterances
during any encounter with the Police. It is not advisable for the students to make incendiary remarks about
the Police or throw missiles at or attempt to kidnap them. These are considered irresponsible acts and should
be avoided.
7. In conclusion, I will like to give a word of advice to the freshers. You should endeavour first and
foremost to read and pass your examinations. You have not come here to waste your time and governments
money or go out without a certificate so anything which will detract you from attaining this goal must be
avoided. Do not allow yourself to be used by others, to do an act which will be a source of life regret. Nobody
will prevent you from exercising the right of dissent but you should realize that freedom should not be
misconstrued for licence to incite disturbance and organize rampage. What on many an occasion brings you
in conflict with the authority and the law enforcement agents is that your protest march, lecture boycott or
out-right strike may not only be ill-timed and ill-advised but may also be ill-judged and ill-motivated. You
must avoid miscalculation and do not allow yourself to be mis-guided or tele-guided. Let us cultivate the
culture of maintaining constant contact and consultation. Let us develop mutual respect and confidence so as
to understand ourselves better in order to serve our society well.

56
8. Finally, before I sign off, I will like to seize this opportunity to appeal to you, all to join the Nigeria
Police Force the only national law enforcement agency charged with the responsibility of maintaining law
and order in the whole of the country. There are vacancies for both the general duty officers as well as the
professionals. On completion of your studies, you are cordially invited to enlist into the Force and make a
career of it. There are ample opportunities for progress as it is an expanding organization and so the sky is
your limit. Apart from the basic salary, there are other service perquisites and facilities so do join please. I will
like to thank you for giving me your attention and I wish you a happy, successful and trouble-free stay in this
institution.

Good luck to you all and God bless.

57
 B

PAPER ON DRUG AND ROAD ACCIDENTS SUBMITTED BY MR. M. A. KURFI, COMMISSIONER OF

POLICE, B DEPARTMENT, FORCE HEADQUARTERS, LAGOS ON BEHALF OF INSPECTOR-
GENERAL OF POLICE AT A SEMINAR ON RATIONAL USE OF PSYCHO-ACTIVE SUBSTANCES AT
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN FROM 21ST 25TH NOVEMBER, 1983.

I feel honoured to be invited to present a paper at this International gathering which is being
attended by distinguished delegates from Sister African Countries as well as Nigerian experts in various
related fields.
A. INTRODUCTION
The subject chosen for me is "DRUG AND ROAD ACCIDENTS" which I consider of great
importance for several reasons. First it relates to one of the basic duties and functions of the members
of the Nigeria Police Force, to wit - Control and direction of road traffic in the Country. Secondly, it is a
subject which is topical and has already generated public debate. Many of those who contributed to the
debate have looked at the subject with jaundiced eyes and have heaped the blame on the Police for not
taking sterner measures to deal with the road hogs who are responsible for the carnage on our roads.
The truth, however, is that the causes of road accidents in Nigeria are legion and varied. However, we
are not for the purposes of this paper concerned with other causes of road accidents - save that which
relate to drug taking by drivers. In the course of my treatment of this subject, I will divide my submission
into three main sub-headings and these are, Alcohol, Indian hemp and Synthetic drugs or KWAYA in
Hausa language. Furthermore, in examining these factors the parameters of experience, research
findings and result of experiments will be used in order to bring into focus the problem of drug as a
contributory factor to road accidents.
B. GENERAL SURVEY:
The problem of road accident has today become a hardy- perennial and as such it is causing
great concern among the citizenry of this country. The Public out-cry against this avoidable human
carnage on our roads is reflected through the media where well articulated articles on ghastly
accidents appear regularly calling for a lasting solutions to the problem. The stupendous number of
lives being lost and the staggering amount of property being destroyed daily is to say the least
frightening. Take any of our trunk-roads, you will be sure to catch the ugly sight of mutilated

58
carcasses of motor vehicles littering both sides of the road as an unwanted testimony of the
human carnage and wanton destruction of property. The question now on the lips of
everybody is "Can't we keep death off our roads? Statistics concerning road accidents are
galore in our daily newspapers and on our television screens while broadcast is also made of
them by the radio stations. Despite the improvement in both road construction and motor
vehicle manufacturing, the resultant effect is a steady increase in road accidents year after
year. The number of people being killed, maimed, or just injured and the property being
destroyed as a result of road accidents call for a scientific study of the phenomenon in order
to find solutions to them or reducing their occurrences to the barest minimum. If you look at
appendix 'A' to this submission, you will discover that during the first quarter of this year,
there were 8,269 reported cases of road accidents in the Country, a total of 2,489 lives were
lost while 6,710 persons were injured. Many of those injured had been maimed for life.
Those figures work out to about one accident being reported every fifteen minutes of our
lives, about three persons being killed every-day while about thirty-one are being injured,
every hour of the day or one person every two minutes. Although one may want to argue
that these figures as they stand are far from being on the high side when compared with
those of other countries, I wish to hold contrary view in that these figures are not only high,
but intolerable in a developing country like Nigeria. I have no doubt in my mind that the
nation can not afford this wastage of both human and material resources which are vitally
needed for development. It can be inferred from the quoted figures that driving which is one
of the common tasks associated with modern civilisation is becoming an anathema rather
than a panacea to mankind in his pursuit of comfort and pleasure. Something has to be done
to keep death off the roads. It is my belief therefore, that such academic exercise as we are
having now, if sustained will surely provide the solution to the pandemic problem of road
accidents.
Certainly accidents as they say do not happen, they are caused. However, for the
purpose of this paper as aforementioned, I will not concern myself with all other causes of road
accidents except those that relates to drug taking by drivers and other road users. Drug taking, abuse or

59
misuse is an important contributory factor to road accidents. In the succeeding paragraphs therefore, I will
discuss fully the effects of drugs in relation to road accidents.

C. DRUG:

Drug is defined as a Chemical Substance used in medicine especially narcotic or stimulant. If we follow this
narrow meaning strictly, we will leave out one of the most important factors which contribute to road
accidents. I would therefore, widen the scope of the meaning in order to subsume this important factor. As
soon as a mention of drug and road accidents is made what readily comes to mind is ALCOHOL. Every one of
us here is aware of the danger of alcohol consumption by road users. Drinking of alcohol before a driver goes
behind the steering wheel is one of the contributory factors for many of the accidents on our roads. The
seemingly out-worn adage of "If you drink don't drive and if you drive dont drink" is as valid today as it has
ever been! The mention of alcohol in relation to road accidents reminds me of an accident in which I was
personally involved. Some years ago on Christmas Eve, I was driving in down town Makurdi in Benue State,
going to the pictures with some friends. As I was approaching the gate of the General Hospital, a pedestrian
holding something in both hands as well as under his arm, all of a sudden dashed across the road. Naturally, I
applied the brake to enable me control the vehicle. As God would have it the vehicle slightly hit the
pedestrian and the impact threw him over the bonnet and then on to the ground just in front of the car
which had already come to a stop and as such I did not run over him. My passengers and I immediately came
out of the car to find out what had happened to the pedestrian. We discovered that he was already
unconscious. We tried to give first aid to him in order to revive him, but in vain. However, he was conveyed
to the General Hospital from where he had come out a few minutes ago , After admitting him we returned to
the scene of accident in order to facilitate police investigation. But as a matter of investigative curiosity, we
wondered what the fellow was holding in his hands and under his arm. Behold what did we find, a bottle of
star beer, a bottle of big stout and a fried chicken neatly wrapped in the usual "SUYA" brown paper! These
items were handed over to the accident investigators who went to the hospital to warn the doctor that if
the patient came to, he should be tested for alcohol. The result was very positive that he had a
glass too many that night before he decided to cross the road to go home. In fact, it was further
revealed that he was actually coming from a Christmas Eve party organised in the hospital for
the junior members of the staff. The point I want to make here is the fact that it is not in all

60
cases that the driver had to be the one who drank alcohol to cause the accident for in my case
it was the pedestrian and in some other cases it may be the pedal cyclist. This is the reason why
I choose to use the term road users instead of the driver. Of course, this and other such cases
may be the exception as the general rule is that road accidents are caused by drink drivers. The
golden rule is that a driver should not take any alcohol if he knows he will be driving shortly
thereafter because investigation has revealed that on the average alcohol even if taken in small
quantities affects the skill of driver albeit the investigation did not give the optimum quantity
which may affect the chances of having accident. Although, there are no accurate statistics to
prove the claim conclusively, yet it is practically an accepted fact that drinking of alcohol by
road users in this country is one of the disturbing causes of the increase in road accidents.
Further more real evidence abounds to show that there is sharp increase in road accidents
involving drink drivers or drunken road users especially during the night. It may be John
together with Sandra who were coming from a late night party where they got thoroughly
drunk before deciding to enter the car and return home. They never got there! Or perhaps, it
was Joseph returning home on a pedal cycle in the small hours of the morning after having
served his master at a wake-keeping party and had done justice to the left-overs of the hot
ones which he was definitely unaccustomed to doing. He took a glass too many, but all the
same rode his bicycle only to wake up and see himself on a hospital bed strapped up all round
in plaster of Paris. It could also be Jeremiah on his pay day which coincided with the week-end
and so at the end of the day on Friday he branched to the nearby local beer parlour, to kill his
thirst with just one bottle before walking home to meet his dear wife who was anxiously
waiting for him to receive the next months Chop money, but alas, he was unable to leave the
pub until it was too late when he never walked home on his legs! The object of this short
narrative is to illustrate clearly that any of the principal road users can be drunk to the extent of causing
an accident.

Although, it is well known that alcohol is a vital factor of the causes of road accident, yet opinions
differ as regards to how to determine or measure its effect on the road users as to cause accident. Scientific
researches are still going on in various countries of the world. Until the results of these researches are
known, it will be difficult to draw the line and say that such quantity of alcohol if taken by a driver, he will

61
not be able to control the vehicle and as such, he will have an accident. This is the kind of problem which one
can not use a precision weapon to arrive at an answer. Added is the fact that in Nigeria today, there are
many legal factors which actually militate against the use of drinking alcohol to obtain conviction against
suspected drivers, albeit in practice, attempts are always made by taking the suspect to the doctor for
examination. The doctor will merely examine the suspect orally to look for the dilated eye balls, slurred
speech, stagger and of course the smell of the alcohol. You will agree with me that such a simplistic clinical
test by a medical doctor is far from being fool-proof and as such it can be challenged in Court. Furthermore
with such kind of emperical approach, no doctor under oath will tell you before a court of law that the
person is drunk. He can only safely tell you that he has taken alcohol. This is the crux of the matter in that
having taken alcohol is quite different from being drunk, but as a Police Officer it is the latter you want in
order to obtain conviction. By and large you will find that in charging a driver to court one always avoids
making a charge of drinking. The law does not give the required clout, for example the provision of the Road
Traffic Act is that Section 19 (1) states, "Any person who when driving or attempting to drive or when in
charge of a motor vehicle on a high way is under the influence of drink or a drug to such extent as to be
incapable of having proper control of such vehicle shall be liable on conviction to a fine of two hundred Naira
or to imprisonment for six months or to both such fine and imprisonment." Section 19 (2) states, "A person
convicted of an offence under this Section shall unless the court for special reasons thinks fit to order
otherwise and without prejudice to the power of the court to order a longer period of disqualification, be
disqualified for a period of twelve months from the date of conviction for holding or obtaining a licence."
Section 20 gives any Police Officer the power of arrest without warrant any person committing an
offence under Section 19.
The key words in the Section are underlined, these are "on a highway" ."under
the influence of drink or a drug to such extent as to be incapable of having proper control of
such vehicle.. This is where the magic is, in that the extent of the drink or drug which
will impair his proper control of the vehicle must be determined. How do you determine this?
Certainly not by oral test or empirical examination, for these wont do! In the advanced
countries like Britain and the United states of America a recourse to the use of chemical tests
has to be made in order to determine the extent to which a drink or drug can influence a
normal person as to affect his driving efficiency. The chemical test is designed to find the

62
amount of alcohol in the blood or urine which will make the drink driver or road user under the
influence of alcohol. During the chemical tests, three different apparatus are used to discover
that the level of harmful alcohol in blood or urine varies usually between o.5miligramme of
alcohol per 1000 millimetre of blood and 1.4 per 1000 by weight. Many States in the United
States of America which use chemical tests for intoxication have the law making it an offence
for a person to drive a motor vehicle if the blood alcohol concentration is 1.4 per 1000 or more
(equivalent to 1.9 per 1000 of urine). However, it must be realised that different people
respond differently to the same amount of alcohol. Some people who are habitual drinkers,
may be less affected than others by small doses. The amount of alcohol present in the blood
depends not only on the quantity drunk, but also the weight of the drinker, the kind of alcohol,
the time interval since the alcohol was drunk and whether it was drunk with or without food.
Despite these draw backs for the time being, the test is the best bet because it has been stated
that the critical concentration of alcohol in blood seems to lie at about the 1.4 milligramme of
alcohol per 1000 millimetre of blood level average. Although not with all subjects, performance
begins to deteriorate with very low blood alcohol concentrations, certainly of the order of 0.2-
0.3 per 1000 by weight and that the deterioration is progressively and linearly related to blood
alcohol level. There is an increase of error in judgment of about 16% with a blood alcohol
concentration of some 0.75 par 1000. There is tendency for subjects to move to the left hand-
side of the road after drinking alcohol and also less consistent positioning. Manipulation or
fiddle with the steering wheel shows significant increase and conversely a significant decrease
in steadiness. Finally, the experiment showed that age, sex, previous driving experience and
previous drinking habits, within the limits available showed no relation to individual differences
in response to alcohol. In other words these chemical tests, chemical examination and
experiments show that as the blood alcohol level increased in relation to drinking more alcohol,
so does the risk of an accident. In other words accident risk is increased by drinking alcohol.

D. INDIAN HEMP:
I now turn to the more dangerous drugs in relation to the factors which cause road
accidents. The arrival of Indian Hemp on road accident scene is by comparison a recent
development and as such statistical data on it are not easily available. However, it is evident

63
from experience that the factor is not only in existence, but that its effect in relation to the
increase in the incident of road accidents is being felt all over the country. Emperical evidence
has shown that Indian Hemp is particularly being smoked by certain sub-groups or classes of
drivers. There are in fact two specific sub-groups of drivers who usually indulge in the habit of
smoking Indian Hemp while engaged in driving and these are the young, well educated elites
and criminal drivers. The latter class of course includes the political thugs, armed robbers and
car snatchers. While the young educated elite takes to smoking of hemp for the kick of it and
also in his or her pursuit of the drug sub-culture. The criminal driver smokes it in order to give
him false energy and courage to enable him drive his masters or colleagues throughout the long
period of their "Operations" to wit commission of crimes especially during the night - the usual
time of their activities. One important aspect however, in connection with Indian hemp is the
fact that there is no way of conducting a clinical examination in order to determine whether a
suspected driver has smoked Indian Hemp unless part of the drug is found in his possession.
The law on Indian hemp in this country is based on this principle which is a serious draw back in
that the penalty it imposes is against possession of the drug rather than smoking it. This is
understandable as it will be difficult to prove smoking of Indian Hemp without the exhibit. The
charge will always therefore be that of possession. In fact no one has ever been convicted of
"Smoking" Indian Hemp. There has not been any known scientific study or experiment carried out in order to
determine the amount of hemp a driver or any other road-user has to take to make him under the influence
of the drug to the extent as to be incapable of having proper control of a motor vehicle under his charge.
Another contrast with alcohol is that while people drink alcohol for pleasure or for the purpose of forgetting
their worries, the social deviants who smoke Indian Hemp do so for the purposes of acquiring false courage,
energy and confidence to enable them perform wonderful feats which are usually criminal in nature.

E. SYNTHETIC DRUGS:

The appearance of a "Hooked" driver on the synthetic drug scene is of very recent well after the
Indian hemp smoking driver had made his debut, although historically, drivers have always been associated
with the use of narcotics especially in the form of locally prepared snuff. The reasons for the incidence of
synthetic drug taking drivers are not far to see, what with the proliferation of back yard drug factories and

64
drug trafficking all over the world. The type of drug usually taken by the drivers are the barbiturates
particularly the amphetemine in tablets or in capsules form known as "KWAYA" in Hausa language. These
drugs are mainly taken by the professional drivers who are most of the time engaged in driving heavily loaded
trucks and trailers used for long distance haulage, for example from Lagos to Kano. From the beginning, the
driver is looking for stimulant which will drive away sleep, tedium, boredom and tiredness because the
journeys are too long and as such last for days. As usual with such habit forming drugs, the driver has to
increase his dosage gradually until he becomes "hooked" on or becomes addicted to the drug. The
cummulative effect of such habit of drug taking eventually becomes counter productive and one day nature
will decide to have its way and in a trice the driver while behind his steering wheel will suddenly fall asleep
and before you say jack rabbit it happens in a most ghastly way in most cases! Like the problem of Indian
hemp, there are no known scientific studies of the effect of synthetic drugs in relation to road accidents and
as such statistical data in this regard are not available. However, experience has shown that many synthetic
drug-taking drivers were involved in accidents of which many were fatal or that the truck or trailer was
completely wrecked beyond repairs.
These carcasses make an ugly sight on our roads. Synthetic drug taking in relation to road accidents,
like its two other twin sisters of alcohol and Indian hemp, has posed a very serious problem to the well being
of the citizenry of this country and their properties and as such requires urgent attention for a solution.

F. RECOMMENDATIONS:

In the preceeding paragraphs, the problem of drug in relation to road accidents has been out-lined
and discussed. There are three classifications of "Drugs" which are associated with principal road users and
road accidents. These are alcohol, Indian hemp and synthetic drugs or "Kwaya" in Hausa language. It now
remains to make recommendations which will go along way in assisting the tackling of the problem. The
recipe is as follows:-

(i) An immediate review of all traffic laws, regulations and rules in the country must be
undertaken in order to bring them in line with modern thinking to enable us take cognisance
of the technological age.

(ii) In line with the above therefore, it is high time to introduce the use of breathalyser -(a

65
 scientific apparatus used for detecting drink drivers) in this country in order to help the law
enforcement agents check the abuse of drugs by drivers. Similar apparatus which will detect
the taking of Indian hemp and an over-doze of synthetic drugs should also be introduced
with legal recognition.

(iii) Determine by law the amount of alcohol, Indian hemp or synthetic drug a driver must take
to make him under the influence of such drug to the extent as to be incapable of having
proper control of a motor vehicle under his charge.

(iv) Reduce the number of breweries in the country and re-invest the capital in other sectors of
the economy where comparable profits will be made, but ethically good.

(v) Stiffen the driving tests and impose equally stiffer punishment against drink and drug-taking
drivers.

(vi) Establish a Road Research Laboratory which will conduct scientific researches, carryout
experiments into the aspect of drinking and drug taking driving.

(vii) The Nigeria police Force should create a section in the Motor Traffic Division (MTD) in the
Nations capital as well as in all the states to take charge of all accidents cases involving
"Drink" and "Drug Taking" drivers.
(viii) The computer department of the Police Force should design a software of code-cards
which will contain all necessary information concerning drink and drug taking drivers so
that accurate statistics can be obtained at any given time.

(ix) Reduce importation of alcohol into the country and tighten security at the borders in order
to control drug trafficking.

(x) Form a Committee of Road Research Laboratory on Drink or Drug Taking drivers, to be
composed of two representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, one from the
Narcotics and Drug Abuse Section, while the other to come from the Curative Section, the
University from Science Research Department and the Nigeria Police Force.

66
G. CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, I wish to say that the above recommendations are far from being exhaustive and
hope that in the course of our discussion, more contributions will be made in order to find a lasting solution
to the problem of death on our roads. It is a great pleasure to be given this wonderful opportunity to make
one's contribution towards finding solution to one of mankinds problems. Thank you all and God bless.

H. APPENDICES:
'A' Summary of Road Accident and Casualties 1st quarter - January 1st - March 31st,
1983.

'B' The Nigeria Police - Road Traffic Offences 1st quarter, 1st Jan.- 31st March, 1983.
I. REFERENCES:
1. Keep Death off the Road - Published by the Nigeria Police Force, FHQ.
2. The Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and Lagos - 1st June, 1968, Road Traffic Act.

3. Report of the Advisory Committee on Road Safety - Published by the Federal Ministry of Works and
Housing, Lagos, November, 1968.

4. Read Safety - How to reduce Road Accidents. - By T. S. Skillman published by the Re-appraisal Society,
London, New York, Los Angeles and Sydney.

5. Research on Road Safety - Published by Her Majesty Stationery Office, London 1963.

67
 Appendix A

SUMMARY OF ROAD ACCIDENT AND CASUALTIES

YEARLY
JAN 1ST DEC. 31ST 1982
STATES TOTAL NO. OF NO. OF NO. OF NO. OF NO. OF
CASES FATAL SERIOUS MINOR PERSONS PERSONS
REPORTED CASES CASES CASES KILLED INJURED
IKEJA 2201 443 847 911 439 1336
L/S
IBADAN 2894 681 1257 956 1270 2084
OYS
AKURE 1351 284 513 554 391 879
ONS
ABEOKUTA 1428 366 448 614 515 92
OGS
BENIN 3257 858 1619 780 1059 2530
BDS
CALABAR 2324 468 958 898 550 1849
CRS
ENUGU 2496 556 1057 883 667 1826
AS
OWERRI 2521 647 1219 655 733 2051
IMS
P/HARCOURT 1195 163 372 660 148 554
RS
SOKOTO 1264 370 482 412 508 1575
SKS
KADUNA 2135 562 719 854 775 1233
KDS
MINNA 1617 404 532 681 510 1425
NS
ILORIN 1424 367 450 607 502 1047
KWS

JOS 1604 384 547 673 429 957

PS
MAKURDI 1939 506 856 577 708 2273
BNS
BAUCHI 1155 367 405 383 489 1512
BS
KANO 2865 683 1041 1141 813 1820
KS

68
MAIDUGURI 1547 302 675 570 375 953
BRS
GONGOLA 1877 409 842 626 501 1709
GS

TOTAL 37,094 8,820 14,839 13,435 11,382 28,539

69
 Appendix B

SUMMARY OF ROAD ACCIDENT AND CASUALTIES

QUARTERLY
JAN 1 MARCH 31ST 1983
ST

STATES TOTAL NO. OF NO. OF NO. OF NO. OF NO. OF

CASES FATAL SERIOUS MINOR PERSONS PERSONS
REPORTED CASES CASES CASES KILLED INJURED
IKEJA 385 45 111 229 56 125
L/S
IBADAN 622 158 239 225 183 604
OYS
AKURE 302 61 120 121 86 196
ONS
ABEOKUTA 401 122 128 151 173 264
OGS
BENIN 722 192 372 158 231 327
BDS
CALABAR 519 115 301 103 142 462
CRS
ENUGU 544 143 237 164 181 385
AS
OWERRI 525 140 267 118 153 489
IMS
P/HARCOURT 397 49 169 179 49 209
RS
SOKOTO 340 101 138 101 160 380
SKS
KADUNA 678 192 266 220 125 412
KDS
MINNA 198 67 65 66 103 324
NS
ILORIN 225 55 79 91 74 182
KWS

JOS 363 82 129 152 80 237

PS
MAKURDI 462 122 158 182 149 621
BNS
BAUCHI 275 90 115 70 116 365
BS
KANO 590 161 228 201 226 408
KS

70
MAIDUGURI 282 67 113 102 76 137
BRS
GONGOLA 439 88 226 125 126 583
GS

TOTAL 8,269 2,050 3,461 2,758 2,489 6,710

71
 Appendix C

THE NIGERIA POLICE

ROAD TRAFFIC OFFICES STATISTICS

For the period JAN 1ST MARCH 31ST 1983 Division

PPG P.W.O. 480

Class PERSONS
Total of Cases

Notice Issued

Investigation
No. under
reported

Number
Worned

refused

Convicted

Convicted
Summone
Acquitted

Acquitted
Apprehen
Prosecute

Prosecute
Awaiting
Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number
Fined

Trial

ded
d

d
Imposed
N
ANAMBRA ANS 389 60 46 9 274 154 24 96 385 165 274 154 24 11985.00
BAUCHI BS 213 4 - - 209 189 2 18 233 - 209 189 2 14055.00
BENDEL BDS 1185 178 1 717 289 140 19 130 1185 289 289 130 19 16590.00
BENUE BNS 580 76 - - 504 269 26 209 580 580 504 269 26 20874.00
BARNO BRS 261 34 65 - 162 152 10 - 137 261 162 152 10 34825.00
C/RIVERS CRS 284 79 1 - 204 86 13 105 284 284 204 86 13 5045.00
GONGOLA GS 463 11 1 - 451 279 5 167 451 451 451 279 5 22770.00
IMO IMS 762 98 17 211 436 213 29 194 762 598 436 213 29 14514.00
KADUNA KDS 645 105 - 138 402 336 16 50 645 477 414 336 16 38912.00
KANO KS 164 5 2 41 116 53 - 63 154 154 116 53 - 2520.00
KWARA KWS 262 15 3 24 220 107 11 102 262 - 220 107 11 7548.00
LAGOS LS 486 77 30 179 200 178 8 14 402 402 200 178 10 8075.00
NIGER NS 185 14 5 - 166 163 1 2 184 - 165 162 3 19080.00

72
OGUN OS 1116 98 - 326 692 655 28 9 792 792 683 655 28 36926.00
ONDO ONS 195 21 10 27 137 96 15 26 154 138 140 93 3 14630.00
OYO YS 951 78 1 180 692 640 28 24 692 692 692 640 18 48259.00
PLATEAU PS 120 29 - - 91 85 6 - 120 - 90 85 5 5750.00
RIVERS RS 935 116 - 540 279 127 33 119 935 935 279 127 33 6775.00
SOKOTO SKS 168 16 - 28 124 121 - 3 119 61 124 121 3 13440.00
TOTAL 9364 1114 182 2420 5648 4043 274 1331 8476 6278 5652 4029 258 342573.00

73
 Appendix D

THE NIGERIA POLICE

ROAD TRAFFIC OFFICES STATISTICS

For the period APRIL 1ST JUNE 30TH 1983 (2ND QUARTER) Division
PPG P.W.O. 480

Class PERSONS
Total of Cases

Notice Issued

Investigation
No. under
reported

Number
Worned

refused

Convicted

Convicted
Summone
Acquitted

Acquitted
Apprehen
Prosecute

Prosecute
Awaiting
Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number

Number
Fined

Trial

ded
d

d
Imposed
N
ANAMBRA ANS 467 72 26 13 356 236 36 84 433 257 255 242 29 17062.00
BAUCHI BS 228 8 - 3 217 181 8 28 228 - 220 181 8 13840.00
BENDEL BDS 1062 107 20 696 239 114 13 112 1062 239 239 113 13 12813.00
BENUE BNS 424 45 - 13 366 299 39 28 421 421 366 299 39 27663.00
BARNO BRS 129 - - - 129 129 - - 129 129 129 129 - 18870.00
C/RIVERS CRS 580 137 3 - 440 192 16 232 580 580 440 192 16 10465.00
GONGOLA GS 440 1 1 - 438 330 3 105 439 439 439 330 3 39825.00
IMO IMS 1459 192 43 337 887 547 59 281 1149 230 888 547 59 160850.00
KADUNA KDS 466 92 - 168 206 203 3 - 466 187 206 203 3 18879.00
KANO KS 268 36 - - 232 109 2 121 122 90 232 109 2 3040.00
KWARA KWS 316 21 4 88 203 125 10 68 316 - 203 97 9 12125.00
LAGOS LS 572 163 - 218 191 163 7 21 572 572 191 141 7 12177.00
NIGER NS 97 14 - 13 70 65 2 3 97 15 70 65 2 3865.00

74
OGUN OS 334 25 13 107 189 188 1 - 211 211 109 188 1 18130.00
ONDO ONS 478 72 25 75 306 235 16 55 306 306 306 235 26 20049.00
OYO YS 820 41 49 134 596 471 26 99 611 611 596 472 25 28610.00
PLATEAU PS 276 19 - - 257 229 28 - 276 - 257 229 28 14095.00
RIVERS RS 231 25 - 154 102 64 17 21 281 28 102 64 17 4560.00
SOKOTO SKS 335 29 - 29 277 277 - - 282 63 275 274 2 29106.00
TOTAL 9032 1099 184 2048 5701 4157 286 1258 7981 5105 5603 4910 289 466024.00

75
 C

The Commandant,

Members of the Directing staff,

Distinguished Guests,

Fellow Members of Course C.4/81.

I have the greatest pleasure in having the honour to address this important gathering on this
memorable occasion, of our "graduation" ceremony. I am particularly grateful to my
colleagues on course C.4/81 for charging me with the responsibility of delivering this
address. The Course is made up of 3 Deputy and 8 Assistant Commissioners of Police
representing Bauchi, Bendel, Imo, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Sokoto State
Commands and Police College Kaduna. The eleven senior officers on this course have an
average age of 44 years and a total of 245 years of loyal and dedicated service in the Force.
Further-more, they have criss-crossed this land to work in as many as 64 different
commands and formations. It is obvious therefore, that their varied and cummulative
experience of the past and the acquired knowledge of the present are sufficient armour to
meet the expectation of the future.

2. Looking back four weeks ago when we first arrived here, one would recall in
retrospect that there were many of us who were unsure of what to expect. Doubts hung
over our faces but it is now all over as we have gone through it and have come out the
better for it. The one month we spent here was action-packed. The course which has
management as its centre-piece was extremely interesting, educative and above all of great
import.

There is no doubt that it has opened up new vista in our approach to one of the most
intriguing aspects of leadership how to motivate subordinates to do willingly what is
required of them. We have learnt the (basic) theories of management and we hope to carry
them home with us and to put them into practice. It is obvious that the course will greatly

76
enhance our efficiency and productivity. The period spent here offered us a forum under a
conducive atmosphere to exchange ideas and to share each other's experiences. Bringing us
together here no doubt has also given us a wonderful opportunity to re-discover our- selves
and to re-new our acquaintances. It made us to revive the spirit of esprit de corps which is
on the wane amongst officers nowadays but needed badly now more than ever before.
3. It is opportune at this juncture therefore to express our gratitude to the members of the
staff of the Industrial Training Funds, Institute. They make a crack team of management
professionals who presented their lectures with zeal and devotion. We are sincerely thankful to
them. AS for Dr. E.J. Cummins of ECWA, Jos, a medical doctor- turned a superb management
guru, we are short of words to thank him, for there is no doubt that every member on this
course enjoyed his talks which were always spiced with witticism, parables and anecdotes. We
enjoyed his superb sense of humour. We are deeply grateful to him for the able manner he
conducted the workshop on management. He is a jolly good-fellow!
4. As the saying goes the daintiest last to make the end most sweet I now turn to the
Commandant and the Directing Staff of the College. On behalf of my colleagues, I wish to
express our thanks for all the assistance you rendered to each and every one of us especially
during the first few days before we got our feet firmly on the ground and understood the rules
of the game. We are particularly grateful to your able Deputy in the person of Mr. Aliyu Atta,
DCP who had taken the trouble to visit us at the hostel on the first day of our arrival to see us
settle down and since then he had been closely in touch with us both severally and collectively.

5. The Police Staff College can rightly be described as the University of the Nigeria Police
Force, because it is the highest police Institution of learning in the land. Stimulated therefore by the
academic atmosphere pervasive here, the participants considered it appropriate to fly some
kites in a few directions. Albeit it is often said that advice is seldom welcome; those who need
it most like it least. It is the consensus of the officers that the College should be allowed a free
and un-impeded academic development to enable it attain an internationally recognised
standard comparable to any university in the land. It should also act as a research centre. In this
respect the College should collect materials from Police Sources and make them available for
any individual or group of individual officers who wish to conduct a research on any given

77
Police subject either officially or on one's own free-will. Further-more, the College should serve
as a police THINK-TANK in that there should be a free flow of ideas and thoughts into the
institution with a view to storing them up ready for a call up to assist Police Policy Makers
with alternative solutions to any given problem.

In addition, all future conferences, meetings and seminars which are Police organised
should be held here so as to encourage academic thinking in the minds of the Police officers. It
is also considered desirable for the Commissioners of Police to attend a management workshop
of at least one week duration. We are surprised to discover two ex-members of the directing
staff of this College among us on this course. It looks to us odd that such ex-members should
now become students in the same College where they teach. In order to avoid this peculiar
situation from arising in future it should be made a policy whereby all members of the College
staff will be given the opportunity to participate on courses appropriate to their ranks while
they are here. To cap it on, it is our view that in order to complete the training circle in
management for all the police managerial cadres, it is strongly recommended that the College
design a training programme for the Inspectors who are regrettably at the moment left out in
the cold with regards to manpower development training.
6. Once again, we thank you very much for our enjoyable stay here. The good memories
of our stay in this great and proud institution will remain with us for a long time.
7. To conclude my speech, I will now call upon Mr. L. J. Apapa, DCP to present to this
college on behalf of the participants a Silver Cup as a token present in memory of course C/4/81
and that the Commandant is free to decide as to which College pursuit he deems appropriate to
use it.
Thank you and good-bye.

78
 D

No. 89, Nagogo Road,

P.O. Box 294,
Katsina State,
Katsina.

13th May, 1999.

His Excellency,
Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'adua,
Governor-elect,
Katsina State,
Katsina.

Dear Sir,

THIS PAPER IS ON WAR AGAINST BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION AND OTHER RELATED
ISSUES

May I have the honour and the privilege to seize this opportunity to first congratulate

you and your Deputy for winning the election and to wish you a happy and successful tenure.

May Allah in His infinite wisdom guide you, amen.

2. The elections have come and gone but they have left an indelible mark which will

remain in the minds of the people of this State forever. The elections have marked a turning

point and undoubtedly changed the political landscape of this State for good. The K34

Organisation dubbed "tiger cubs", comprises a crop of young intelligentsia of Katsina State,

worked day and night diligently with commitment and dedication to oust the old and

discredited politicians of the Second Republic. I was marvelled to watch the struggle from the
sidelines. The task was accomplished with consummate skill using precision weapon. The old

79
jaded war-horses have finally been retired politically without pension and gratuity and are only

good for the knacker's yard. In a nutshell, what happened was a political revolution where the

old breed politicians who have been prostituting themselves for too long, taking advantage of

the gullibility of our people have been knocked off their pedestal without much ado and their

places taken over by the new breed politicians of the new generation. The torch has now been

passed to the new generation free from the encumbrances of a decadent society, untainted by

the endemic corruption, toughened by the harsh economic climate of under development,

enlightened by the benefit of sound education and inspired by the burning desire to free their

down trodden people who are now wallowing in abject poverty and deprivation. Their singular

objective is to lay down a sound foundation for a modern egalitarian society where justice,

equity and fair play will reign supreme.

3. Bribery and Corruption: I am particularly encouraged to write this paper because I
admire the way and manner you conducted the electioneering campaign without tears
in that no shouting of abusive campaign slogans, no fracas, no injury, etc. The
atmosphere throughout the period was calm and orderly. We never had it so good!
Added this, your choice of your Deputy in the person of Alhaji Tukur Jikamshi, who on
principle decided without much ado, to give up a plum job of a Commissioner of Water
Resources with all the attached paraphernalia and perquisites. He is undoubtedly a
veteran of "War against Bribery and Corruption". This is the first of its kind in this part of
the country. People love him for that and he has earned their plaudits. His name and
that of this colleague with whom he resigned have been written in gold on the sands of
history of public service in the State. There is no doubt this is a new beginning and the
future looks bright. It is a light at the end of the tunnel and may be the days of graft and
thievery will soon be over but not without a gruelling fight. The duo of you and him will
therefore make a marvellous match for the impending war against the monstrous
bribery, corruption and thievery in the public service.
4. The twin evils of bribery and corruption are not only an integral part of the Military
Regime but their breeding centre. Bribery and corruption have been institutionalized

80
and one will get punished for failing to participate. Transparency and accountability
which are the twin sisters for good governance will sound double Dutch to the military
man who is in a rat race to accumulate as much as he can before his time is out. This is
number one problem facing this poor nation. To fight bribery and corruption, is needless
to say, a harculean task and one requires the invocation of all prayers and the good will
of all good people in order to succeed. It is not being facetious to say that bribery and
corruption in Nigeria have passed with flying colours, the primary and the secondary
stages and are now in the tertiary stage whereby outright thievery is the order of the
day. Contracts are deliberately inflated to the extent that if the value quoted by the
applicant Contractor is N100,000.00 the officials handling it will increase the contract
sum to N140,000.00 and the Contractor will bring the difference of N40,000.00 to them
in cash. As for the Local Government, the popular saying is that theirs is broad day light
robbery without arms which is not punishable with death in that as soon as they receive
the monthly grant, they pay the salaries only and the balance is shared out on the table
among the top echelon like you share groundnuts with your friends. This is the extent of
corruption and thievery in the land. The canker worms have eaten deep in the fabric of
the Nigerian Society to the extent that people flaunt the ill-gotten riches without a grain
of conscience. If you launch a crusade against these twin evils, you will not find many
people on your side who will stand to be counted. However, there is no alternative. The
only way forward for this country is to eradicate bribery and corruption to the level of
tolerance. Your greatest weapon in this crusade is leadership by example but you must
be prepared to make sacrifice for your way to success will be strewn with many
temptations, enticement and obstacles. The remedy is to be on your guard always and
subject yourself to self-checking to make sure you do not fall prey to the enemies of
progress. Furthermore, you should watch over your shoulders as the enemies within are
more dangerous than the enemies outside, for the former you do not know where and
when he is going to hit you, while the latter can be identified and be contained.
Remember also that as a leader, your followership is watching you like the cat watches a
mouse and everything you do or say will be subject for discussion, comments, analysis,

81
etc. by the people and they will draw their own conclusions one way or the other.
Before you say Jack Rabbit, the matter will be on the lips of almost everybody in the
State and beyond. A leader can lead his people either to bliss or to perdition. In order to
assist you and your Deputy in the war against bribery, corruption and thievery, it is an
idea of mine that you should establish a small committee of transparently honest,
dedicated, committed and fearless people who are beyond reproach in any
circumstances. In short, each must be a "Mister Clean" in the actual meaning of the
words. This Committee should be named and called "MUCK RAKERS". As the name
implies, the responsibility of the members of this Committee is to rake the muck. In
order words, they are to hunt for and expose bribery, corruption and thievery in any
place they occur no matter who is involved. Before a member IS appointed on this
committee, he or she must surrender himself to thorough security investigation in order
to find out whether he or she is qualified for the job. Once the right calibre of people is
secured, you then proceed to establish the Committee either by legislation or by
governor's fiat. It is further suggested that the Committee should comprise of a retired
High Court Judge, a Lawyer, a Journalist, a Security man, an Accountant, a Religious
Leader, a respected Community Leader and any other person(s) the Governor may
deem fit. In the law establishing the Committee, its full duties and responsibilities
should be spelt out and furthermore, the members should be protected from
unnecessary litigation and also an innocent person must be protected from blackmail,
witch hunting, campaign of calumny and damaging one's reputation. The committee
members in the course of their duty, should seek and obtain information concerning
any dirty deal, be it financial, political or social and if they are satisfied it is true, they
should proceed to publish such information in the leading Newspapers as a public
Scandal and the person or persons involved must be called upon to defend himself or
themselves otherwise they will be forced to resign their appointment if they are holding
public office(s).

Once they resign, the matter should be closed, unless in cases where other criminal
offences have been committed, the matter should then be referred to the Security

82
 Agents for further investigation and possible prosecution.

5. There is a second alternative idea and that is the appointment of Anti Bribery and

Corruption Committee, which like complaints Bureau, will entertain complaints but

pertaining to bribery and corruption only. When the Committee receives complaints it

investigates it. After the investigation it puts up a report and submits to the

Government for further action. In this setting, all cases of alleged bribery and corruption

from the Ministries and Parastatals should be referred to this Committee for

investigation and report to the Government which will decide whether to refer the

report to the Security Agents for prosecution or not. The Committee must be careful not

to userp or arrogate to itself, the function of the police as regards to the power to

investigate Criminal Offences. A careful study of the situation should be made by the

legal people who will draw the line between the Committee and the Police.

6. The third idea is that of establishing an Ethics and Morality Commission or Committee.

The Committee is to be all embracing as regards to matters of ethics and morality. The

duty and responsibility of such a Committee are to propagate the concept of the

principles of ethics and morality in all the nooks and crannies of this State. Any act

which violates these principles should be referred to it for adjudication.

7. As aforementioned that the Military regime is the breeding centre of bribery, corruption
and thievery, it is therefore imperative that we proceed to identify the breeding

grounds and the infested areas. The first breeding ground is of course the traditional

institution which is an embodiment of bribery and corruption alfa and omega and they

are its life line. The traditional institution which is an anachronism in present day setting

any way, has insulated itself from the effects of all the changes that are taking place

around it. It has buried itself like the proverbial ostrich and continues to behave as if

nothing has been happening in the society. Apart from the changes which took place

during the sixties and seventies, i.e. removing the judiciary and the police from it, one
can safely say that the traditional institution has been the same since Lugard. The most

83
disturbing aspect of this institution is its resurgence now no thanks to the propping it by

the military which regards it as its constituency and the retrogressive elites who have

come back now clamouring for traditional title which is nothing but meretricious. I

would to God we wake up one day and discover that this institution has been swept out

of existence and the palaces are turned into maternity homes. In any way, it is

envisaged that the Civilian Government of the tiger cubs will do something to curve

the excesses of this institution as regards to bribery and corruption. For instance, all the

monies that the traditional leader collects for dishing out titles should be regarded as

derivable revenue and should be accounted for and paid into government coffers.

Furthermore, the fund allocation the Emirate Council receives from the Federal, State

and Local Governments should be equally accounted for and Governor's approval must

be sought before it is spent. It should be made to prepare a budget annually for

Governor's approval. At the end of the year, external auditors will audit the accounts.

There is compelling evidence that the emirate council is spending funds without

accountability. In recent development, the Emirate Councils have embarked upon

unnecessary creation of more districts, for instance Katsina Emirate was having twenty

two Districts before, but now it has forty four exactly doubled. If one looks into this

aspect, one will find out that the expenditure being incurred by the Local Governments
for the up-keep of these forty four districts is enormous. It is money spent without

earning corresponding revenue. As if creation of more districts is not bad enough, the

Katsina Emirate has just created about Three Hundred Village Heads without any reason

but the desire to squeeze money out of poor citizens of this state. It is needless to say

that the creation of more village heads is a great financial burden on the Local

Governments which will have to pay their salaries and allowances. It is therefore hoped

that the Government will look into this affair as soon as it takes over. In order to

illustrate the corruption which is inherent in the traditional institution one may recall
that there was a year when the State Government gave it the responsibility of selling

84
 fertilizer. The Government discovered to its chagrin that the district heads and the

village heads were charging extra amount on each bag of fertilizer and pocketing the

proceeds. The following year, the Government did not repeat the mistake of involving

the traditional institution. The same story about pilgrims seats were given to the District

and village heads to distribute to their own people. It was discovered that the District

and Village Heads were charging five to ten thousand naira extra for each seat. The

people complained bitterly and the Government was forced not to repeat the mistake

the following year. In another scenario, the traditional institution was asked to collect

taxes from the people. This aspect is one of their traditional responsibilities but what

happened? Apart from the fact that they added their own tax, many have embezzled

what they collected from the people. Up to now, there are many Village Heads who

have not paid their collection to the District Heads and equally there are many District

Heads who have not paid the taxes collected to the Government. These cases are

replete in the State because nowadays, the traditional institution is not being

supervised by anybody. Constitutionally, it is supposed to be under the Local

Government but the District Head will sit in his House and send for the Chairman of

Local Government to come and see him. There is need to check this obsequious

practice. It should be reversed. In fact there should be a circular from the Governor's
Office to say that the Local Government employees should not prostrate before the

District or Village Head when they visit them on official duty and any senior government

official going to the Emirs Palace should not prostrate before the Emir and that he

should not take off his shoes. These were the rules during the days of Great Sardauna.

These rules should be revived to enhance the importance of the Civil Servants vis-a-via

the traditional leaders. Efforts must be made to restore the honour and dignity of the

Civil Service and it must have a pride of place in the scheme of things.

8. Another breeding ground of bribery and corruption is KTARDA. This parastatal being
supervised by the State Ministry of Agriculture is supposed to develop the rural areas

85
 and provide the required agricultural inputs but the officials are concentrating in

awarding contracts and collecting kickback and kickfront. There is need for the incoming

Civilian Administration to have a comprehensive dossier about it. This is a World Bank

assisted project but it is far from achieving its primary objectives. If one is to write fully

about KTARDA one will make a best seller. However, it suffices to say that a lot of

thieving is taking place and there is need for the Government to have a thorough

knowledge of the working of the organisation.

9. Next to KTARDA is the State Water Board. This too is a World Bank assisted project.

Contracts are being awarded and millions of dollars are being siphoned away into

private pockets. The government should have a complete write up about this

organisation. At the moment, some of the people in Katsina, the State Capital, have not

seen pipe borne water for several months whereas contracts are being awarded

everyday for the improvement of water supply for the Capital. It is also an area where

the Chief Executive usually has quarrel over the spoils with General Managers. There is

obvious need to have a thorough knowledge of its working system.

10. Another corruption breeding ground is IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural

Development). This too is a World Bank assisted project, and there are millions of

dollars being spent. Care must be taken to ensure that the right calibre of people are
posted there. The present set of workers are State Government employees and

therefore they can be transferred out and be replaced by fresh hands.

11. The Budget Directorate IS another breeding ground of bribery, corruption and thievery.
Any Ministry, Department or Parastatal with an 'allocation must bribe its way to get the
allocation released. The more disturbing aspect is that large scale frauds are taking
place here, i.e. if a head of an Institution wants his allocation to be increased, over and
above the budgetary allocation, he will have to see the officials and they will increase
the total sum of the allocation, for example, if his budgetary allocation is two million per
quarter of the year, he can get it increased to say three million provided he shares the

86
 spoils with the officials. Anybody posted there you will see him changed in a matter of
months.

12. The KTSG/IEEC project is another corruption infested area. As soon as the Civilian
Government takes over, arrangement should be made to shake up the place and
perhaps many of the present members of the staff will find themselves out and to be
replaced by fresh hands. There is no doubt that the place is over due for a complete
over haul. There are other corruption infested areas and breeding grounds but the
above mentioned ones are those which matter very much. The others not mentioned
here like the new market, the new motor park, etc, can be taken care of by close
supervision and monitoring of their activities. So much for bribery, corruption and
thievery. I now turn to areas which require immediate attention, if government is to
make an impact.

13. Agriculture which is the economic base of this State has been neglected as the officials

concentrate only on the sale of fertilizer which is never supplied in sufficient quantities.

What has been exercising my mind is that how can we revive agriculture and make it

occupy its pre-eminent position of the economy. The starting point is the restoration of

the Marketing Board System whereby farmers are assured of market for their cash

crops, i.e groundnut and cotton. There are many reasons which cause the decline of
agriculture and relegating it to the back ground in this part of the country. One of such

reasons, is the arrival of ADP (Agricultural Development Programme), which substituted

cash crop cotton and groundnuts with food crop maize. The farmers found maize easier

and cheaper to cultivate than cotton or groundnut. Secondly, as aforementioned, the

absence of Marketing Board system whereby the farmer is certain of the market for his

crops contributed greatly to the decline of agriculture. The present individual buyers of

cash crops are nothing but cheats and that farmers do not get the best bargain for their

commodities. They are left at the mercy of these shylock buyers. Thirdly, when there is
a bumper season, the farmers are left with the surplus whereas during the Marketing

87
 Board System, it would buy the surplus. Fourthly, the farming implements are still

primitive and labour consuming. The hoe which is the time honoured farming

implement has not been changed for centuries. In order to increase the production of

these crops, it is essential that the method of farming is changed for mechanical or

mechanised implements. It is therefore essential that Commissioner of Agriculture and

other top officials take a trip to the South East Asian countries like China, India,

Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines. These countries cultivate rice as

their main cash crops on large scale and therefore they must have developed modern

farming implements. Let us under study their system and then improvise at least a

semi-mechanical implement which will be cheaper for every small fanner to buy. The

tractor being used now is beyond the reach of a small fanner and the tractor-hiring

system does not make for efficiency as they keep on breaking down many times over

and there are no enough to go round. What a farmer requires is a small semi-

mechanical implement which will replace the traditional hoe which scratches the

surface of the soil only and is tiring for the farmer bending down all day long.
14. Education which is the bedrock of any society, has nearly collapsed in this State. The
School infrastructures are in bad state of disrepair while the class rooms are
congested. Because since the creation of this State not a single post-primary institution
has been built, on the contrary, the Commissioner of Education recently made a
statement to the effect that the post-primary schools will be reduced. A bold step must
be taken to correct the system in its entirety. The activities of the Educational Trust
Fund should go beyond distributing books, desks, etc. These are mere palliatives and
thus scratching the surface only of the problem confronting the educational system in
the State. While there is truancy in the rural areas, the schools in the urban areas are
too congested. We have to find a solution to the two different problems. The situation
needs to be studied because apart from the problem of infrastructures and the
students, there is the problem of the teaching community. The teachers are not

88
 motivated enough and as such their condition of service needs to be looked into in
order to improve it. The education is an area in which a good government must aim to
make an impact.

15. Health Care Delivery: This is another area in which the ordinary people derive direct

benefit. The health care delivery system in the State has improved with the intervention

of Petroleum Trust Fund, but the government can do a lot more to further improve the

situation.

16. Provision of Potable Water: There is acute shortage of potable water for most of the

communities especially in rural areas. A deliberate policy should be evolved in order to

improve the situation greatly. The government in its plan should declare a year or two

as Water Supply Year(s) in the state.

17. Security: The security situation in the state leaves much to be desired and the criminals

have snatched the initiative from the security agents. The modus operandi employed by

the criminals is that of hit and run tactics. They have decided to leave the urban areas

where chances of escape are slim and concentrate their nefarious activities in the rural

areas. They will select their target in an isolated area and hit and escape before

information reaches the security agents. The security agents must now go back to the

drawing board and study this new phenomenon and evolve an effective way of
combating it. The security agents are deficient in terms of equipment and mobility. It is

therefore necessary for the State Government to come to their aid from time to time.

The most disturbing aspect of this new modus operandi is that they always shoot and

kill their victim after robbing him. The criminals have used this same method many

times over and not a single arrest had been made by the security agents. There is urgent

need for the government to pay attention to this aspect because no meaningful

economic activities will take place under fear for one's life and property. It is suggested

that the government requests for the transfer of the present heads of the security
agents who have been working with the military because with the coming of a

89
 democratically elected government, their respective roles will definitely change, for

instance now they are part and parcel of the military government in fact some of them

are members of the Cabinet.

18. Roads Network: It is an open secret that a part from the few roads constructed in the

Capital, there has not been one inch of tar mark built since the creation of this State. In

fact many of the roads inherited have not been maintained and as such they are in a

most deplorable condition. The reasons of this situation are not far to see as the

Ministry of Works is as dead as dodo and as of now the only mobile vehicles there are

the official cars of the Commissioner and his Permanent Secretary. KUPDA has been in a

state of coma for the last four or five years. They have become do-nothing

organisations. It will be an arduous task to try and resuscitate them.

19. Ceremony and garland wearing syndrome: The odious culture of ceremony for every

little event and garland wearing is considered a status symbol of the bourgeois military

and as such the democratically elected government should shun such a practice because

a lot of money is always voted out for these events but most of the money ends up in

private pockets.

20. It is palpable that since Independence the rulers of this country concentrated only on

physical development where super structures are put up after receiving the 10% kick
back or kick front to the neglect of human development. This is the main reason why we

find ourselves in the present quagmire whereby the country has become morally

bankrupt. Everybody is in the rat race to become rich by all means and that money has

been the end but not a means to an end. There is a compelling reason for the country to

return to Almighty Allah (SWT) and surrender totally to His will. The country must be

saved from its own iniquities and return to moral rectitude and it is only the leadership

who will do it. Nigeria is a country which has gone under as almost every official you

meet is on the take while every business man is a scammer. We must evolve a national
ideology and return to the traditional values of ethics and morality.

90
21. It is advisable that the government keeps its line of communication with the governed
open and this can be done by making broadcast to the State weekly or monthly. The
broadcast on both the radio and television should aim at keeping the people abreast
with activities of the government. This method works like magic as it endears the
government to the masses who are being well informed and kept up-to-date.
22. It is also advisable to appoint a trouble shooter in the form of either Commissioner for
Special Duty or an Adviser. The person appointed must be dynamic and capable fellow
full of energy and well versed in politics. His duty is to go to places where there is
trouble and shoot it down and restore normalcy.
23. Your inaugural speech should spell out the basic agenda of your administration and the
policy of your government. The speech should contain ingredients of the direction of
your administration and it will leave no one in doubt as to where you face.

24. Efforts should be made to export your revolution to the neighbouring States where old

guards are still waxing strong.

25. It is not my intention to make the write up long as it is quite obvious that your briefcase
must be bulging now with many submissions, memoranda, papers, exposition, agenda
and what not. However, the above mentioned areas are not the only ones which require
urgent government action but they are the selected few considered most important.
Furthermore, it is suggested that you come in with your agenda and blue print for action
in order to know precisely where you are going.

Mudi A. Kurfi
89, Nagogo Road, Katsina

91
 PART THREE

SUBMISSION OF COURSEWORKS NO.6

LEARNING OF OUTCOME/DEMONSTRATION OF COMPETENCE

A SHORT POEM

THE NIGERIAN POLITICIAN

BY M. A. KURFI

8A KOFAR SAURI CRESCENT

GRA, KATSINA

6/12/2007

92
 A SHORT POEM
THE NIGERIAN POLITICIAN
They campaign in style in their jeeps in vogue,
Add latest Honda and Benz, the queen of all.
In their front and back plenty of their hired rogues,
Vanguard of thuggery, addicts, robbers and all,
Prostitutes, hobos and loafers all wagging their evil tongues,
Fully armed to play havoc on enemy, to kill and all.
The evil that men do lives after them,
Ho, Ho! The Nigerian politicians, will they ever change?
With plenty of cash stashed in boxes too heavy to loade,
To bribe and corrupt, rig to be winners take all.
Not care at all the consequences in epilogue,
Booty of their immoral plunder and loots of all.
The result scatters death in bodies to fill the morgue,
And the wounded and the maimed stitched up in bandage all.
The evil that men do lives after them,
Ho, Ho! The Nigerian politicians, will they ever change?
The morass of lies and deceit, an article of faith in their vogue,
Where fair is foul and foul is fair and all.
In the name of democracy in vogue,
Making promises never to be fulfilled at all.
Not afraid of Almighty God, less of nemesis, with mammon in temple agog,
The syndrome of greed for power, wealth and all.
The evil that men do lives after them,
Ho, Ho! The Nigerian politicians, will they ever change?

Composed by
M.A Kurfi

93
 B

CONGRATULATORY LETTER

TO

ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR

THE VICE PRESIDENT

OF

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

DESPATCHED: 10TH December, 2006

94
 M.A. Kurfi,
No. 8A Kofar Sauri,
Crescent G.R.A.,
P.O.Box 294.,
Katsina.
10/12/2006
Your Excellency,
The Vice President,
The Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Via Aso Rock, Villa,
Abuja.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

Dear Sir,
A MISSIVE OF ADMIRATION
I have the honour and the privilege as a free citizen of this country to write to you this
short letter in order to congratulate you for the most remarkable success you have achieved so
far in your fight against the undemocratic forces of darkness which have befallen this nation.
Mind you, this is not done out of sycophancy, the most favourite resort of Nigerians, but out of
serene and pure motive and the desire to give honour to whom honour is due.
You may wish to know that since you made your debut in the minefield of politics in this
country, I have been your silent admirer and so I have been watching your performance from
afar with increasing exultation while at the same time nursing a fervent hope that one day,
Insha Allah, this country may be blessed to have your service as the occupier of the number one
seat in government.
Consequently, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, I have the greatest admiration for your courage
and determination to pick the gauntlet thrown down by your Big Brother, and to put up a fight
to win, I am impelled by the promptings of moral conscience to intimate to you that I have now
come to the definite conclusion that you are my political hero and the jewel in the crown.
The unfolding drama began when the hate-mongers hatched an odious plan to
blackmail you out of office and to keep you perpetually in disgrace with intent to put a
formidable but permanent obstacle to your presidential ambition. A series of concocted
criminal charges of political chicanery with invented copper-bottom evidence were made public

95
with unprecedented fanfare as to make it seem that you are only good for the gallows. Many of
your friends, well wishers and sympathizers within the government, were scared away from
you by the usual tactics of threat and blackmail. That is the stitch-up scenario.
However, when the battle was joined, beleaguered and vulnerable as you appeared, you
charged forth with all ferocity and equanimity. You were well aware that the fight was between
a bruiser and a brute and was going to be grueling and bruising. You remained undaunted and
steadfast to display political sagacity never shown by any politician in this country. Fighting as a
courageous underdog facing a defiant villain did not give you a chance as it seemed, especially
considering the arsenal at his disposal. All the same you went into the battle with fortitude and
refused to be frightened by the scarecrow, the heaps of the taxidermist and the exuvia of the
black mamba. You have delivered accurate and devastating upper-cut punches against the
enemy who was nothing but a babe-in-the-woods and a shyster politician. You have so far
scored four bulls without a loss, and one was a landmark with a profound snowball effect of the
domino theory in the politics of this country.
It must be accepted even by your enemies that so far you have proved you mettle and
political maturity. The battle has earned you may laurels. By your performance, you have
destroyed for good, the bogey of power and incumbency, you have proved that you are a true
democrat who is prepared to fight not for your own survival only but for the sustenance of
democracy. You have altered the national psyche and have renewed the citizens hope in
democracy. You have also provided a case study for the students of Political Science and had
supplied an invaluable compendium for generations yet unborn. As for the Big Brother and his
implacable hatred, all you need to do now, is to deliver the final blow to send him to the
knackers yard. When you have the devil in the driving seat you need additional prayers beside
the seat belt.
Kai Atiku, you are the come back kid and that makes you great!
Wishing you long life to enjoy the fruits of democracy.

Yours ever

M. A. Kurfi CP(RTD)

96
 C

SUBMISSION OF COURSE WORK NO. 2 ON LEARNING OUTCOME/DEMOSTRATION OF CONFIDENCE

PROSE WRITING

II DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY (POLITICAL SATIRE), TITLED:

THE TWO NAKED DANCERS A-LA-TANGO

BY

MUDI ALIYU KURFI

P.O.BOX 294
KATSINA

97
 THE TWO NAKED DANCERS A-LA-TANGO

The Skullduggery in Nigeria has reached its nadir as the two most dishonorable citizens
in the land are entangled in a macabre dance as it takes two to Tango. However, the dance has
turned sour for the duo as they now nakedly engage in a pugilist bout of "do or die" affair.
Introducing the pugilist in the red corner, ladies and gentlemen, is a well known boxer of both
national and international disrepute, whose history shows that he is a vicious, pugnacious and
vindictive bully who neither forgives nor forgets and, like the Jew in the Merchant of Venice,
he must always have his pound of flesh. In character, he is found to be a misanthrope and a
sado-masochist with manic propensity in a sanguinary atmosphere. In fighting, he shows traits
of Kamikaze with readiness to commit Hara-Kiri. He has developed a culture of notoriety and
super egotism with characteristic haughty mien and a display of hubris and unquenchable
rodomontade. His tactics are Machiavellian, exploiting religious bigotry and ethnic differences,
and using C.I.A weapon of arm twisting, blackmail and intimidation. His habit is crawling on all
fours in "dubale" whenever he wants a favour but once he gets what he wants, he turns against
you like Frankenstein with astonishing vengeance of wickedness and ingratitude which is now
his trademark. He is also known to beat the chameleon in changing his colour. He is a celibate
rather than a celebrity and is also fond of blague. His food which he eats with relish is self-
glorification, ego-laundering, and apotheosis. His vital statistic include the following: pot
bellied and weight 150,000 barrels, of crude oil daily, courtesy of NNPC scale, tall as the
Transcorp Hilton Hotel, courtesy of the Okerekes, fat as the "donations" for personal library,
strong as the "privatized" Nicon Insurance. He is from the stable of the Kayodes, Nwekes and
Maduekes.

His henchmen are the Ribadus and the EI-Rufais, the latter being, like the Greek
mythological satyr, is half this and half that. His track records as an old jaded pugilist, show that
he scored at least four Technical Knock-Outs (T.K.O) against the Nwerams, the Anyams, the
Okadibos and the Wabaras but had had a gruelling draw against the Tinubus and the Kalus, as
for the Galis, it was stopped undecided. On the international arena, he had three major bouts
to wit: the one against the Czar of Cameroon where he received an unprecedented T.K.O at
Bakassi. And then the trousers- wearing Rice Lady who met him at Charles Taylor Venue where

98
he wanted to use his usual tactics of hide and seek but the no-nonsense lady never gave him a
dog's chance, and so he received a humiliating defeat. As for the debt relief, it was a pyrrhic
victory which cost us among other things that respected lady of Owela who was forced to take
a back door exit but it must be acknowledged that his name has gone into the Guinness Book of
Records as the only known pugilist to have punched continuously the ghost of a dead enemy for
seven good years without let-up. However, his greatest challenger of all times is "Tazarce"
which left him on the turf for the mandatory count of ten. It was a historic T.K.O from which he
never recovered - that, is the contestant who calls himself Ubanshegu!.

Introducing the other contestant in the blue corner, is a suave cheer- leader of "Anti-
Tazarce". A dare-devil of a fighter with political sagacity and a deceptive perennial niceness,
typical of people of his ilk. A deft young man, adept, agile and unflappable who is not new to
the foul tactics of his older rival as he has an in-built capacity to remain the punching bag of the
former until recently. He is slow to act at times but when he does, he performs with astonishing
aplomb and clat. He has learnt the rope as he is from Yar'adua stable and his sidekicks are the
Shehus, the Muhammads, the Edus. He is not very well known as a pugilist as he has not
recorded a T.K.O in his favour but all the same he is picking the gauntlet with determined
courage and fortitude. This is the other contestant by the name Atatak!

The referee in this great contest is that universely known personality who remains
invisible and intangible; he is Mr. Time! He is never known to be partial although some people
in their misconception do claim that "Tim is on their side but that claim has been debunked.
There are rules obviously to be observed by both contestants in that all forms of cheating,
unsavory tactics or hitting below the belt will not be tolerated. There is no limit to the number
of rounds but the contest has to finish by 29/5/07. Ladies and gentlemen, after the two
contestants have been bingeing on our wealth bellyful, and now overly monetized, they have
decided to walk nakedly into the ring. It is a sad story of two thieves, each accusing the other of
stealing. However, what we want is democracy to build a Utopian Nigeria but not Klaptocracy
for a dystopian Nigeria. The choice is clear. The battle is now joined and the venue of this
contest, is Petroleum Training and Development Fund (PTDF). This is the millennium fight: a

99
reckless and defiant villain versus a courageous under-dog, while one is cunning the other is
canny, so keep your ear to the ground and be with the media. "Very soon we shall find out" as
Bob Marley would have said, "who the real revolutionary is".
While the stage is thus set, it is clear that the contest will have far reaching and serious
consequences on the national psyche, with particular reference to this part of the country
which is being denied its legitimate right for a re-entry as it were, as one of them was heard to
have said that it would take fifty years before the North would be allowed to be in the driving
seat again. The brouhaha is far beyond the two personalities involved but it is part of the grand
design of the old war horse to give effect to the statement quoted above. When the Ibos did
their own, we just woke up one terrible morning only to find that in a deliberate and selective
killing, our leaders both political and military were totally eliminated and there were rowdy
celebrations else where in the country and the dastardly killers were all hailed as heroes. This is
a new scenario for history to repeat itself. This time around, the tactics are changed but the
motive remains un-cunningly identical. It cannot be pursued by military might but by political
shenanigans in the nature of apocrypha and pseudology, a stitch up and a chicanery to destroy
our leaders in the same manner. Firing on all cylinders, the schemers have put all our credible
political leaders on the firing line and the game plan is well timed as the aim is to keep them
out of the race to Aso Rock. Then they propped up that joker to be a dog in the manger by
splitting our votes on religious line as a weapon of division for their planned candidate to
emerge. He is given an early start and one can see that his campaign trail is well oiled by his
boss who has deliberately kept silent about it. Furthermore his visits to south-South States with
regular abandon, cast a long shadow of suspicion as this is the area where authorities are
virtually swimming in oil money and where terrorists are trained and let loose to roam about to
kidnap and kill at will members of the security forces of the country with impunity and also the
unwanted foreigners in the area like the ubiquitous Americans, British, Germans, Italians etc.

In order to placate Uncle Sam whom he knows cannot be taken for a ride, he ran to
Ethiopia wearing an anti-terrorist toga to impress and while there he issued a statement
supporting the sending of United Nations troops to Dafur, which he knows very well is a
contentious issue with the Sudan.

100
 In another scenario of great propaganda stunt, a well-timed visit was orchestrated by his

lapdog to the National Assembly to announce the names of almost all the 36 Governors as

corrupt. This is a blackmail to scare them away from supporting his victim. Subsequently he

called the governors for a meeting, only to hint darkly that these were mere allegations against

the governors. The effect was profound and many of them have farted as they sat there.

However, one may recall with nostalgia when that Na Abba man wielded that surgical knife to

cut out the tumour once and for all, the usual do-gooders of Nigeria, the Gowons, the Shagaris,

the emirs and chiefs, the Adebites were up in arms and scuppered it. The irony is that now that

the shoe is on the other foot, the do-gooders are keeping quiet because their narrow personal

interests are not at stake! That is how the cookie crumbles! However, this is not the time to

hedge our bets but to act collectively and in unison. And so it is urged like king Richard urged

himself:-

I had forget myself: am I not king?

Awake, thou sluggard majesty! thou sleep'st
is not the king's name forty thousand names?
Arm, arm, my name! a puny subject strikes
At thy great glory - Look not to the ground,
Ye favourite of a king: are we not high?
High be our thoughts.

Mudi Aliyu Kurfi

17 Hassan Usman Road
Katsina.

101
 PART FOUR

SITUATION REPORT ON SCARCITY OF

PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IN KATSINA STATE:
YEAR 2000

SUBMITTED BY

THE COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT, MONITORING AND DISTRIBUTION OF

PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

102
 SITUATION REPORT ON SCARCITY OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
IN KATSINA STATE: YEAR 2000

The new millenium of the year 2000 was ushered into Katsina State with mixed feeling
as towards the end of last year and at the beginning of this year, there appeared again on the
scene a sneaking scarcity of Petroleum Products. This phenomenon which was thought to have
been laid to rest for good, has reared its ugly head again. The creeping scarcity of petroleum
products prompted the Committee to go into action. First and foremost, we studied the
situation to find out the causes of the scarcity. These are found to be as follows:
(a) The announcement by the Federal Government to deregulate Petroleum Products had
caused fear among the Oil Marketers who are put in a quandry. Consequently, they
decided to play a game of wait and see. Therefore, they stopped lifting the products
until things are sorted out.
(b) Federal Government has also cancelled all the licences of Major Marketers for importing
refined Petroleum Products into the country. This action has the immediate effect on
the stocks holding of the marketers, which have depleted considerably without
replenishment. The Government gave as reason for the new order that it loses money
on subsidies whenever refined products are imported into the country.
(c) The epileptic performance of the four refineries in the country. These refineries have
never performed at full capacity and they get shut down every now and then. They are
also prone to fire incidents, power failure and mechanical break down.
(d) The criteria for allocation of the products, which give priority to the so-called catchment
area or states in which the depots are located, have deprived other states which are far
away from the depots, fair share of products. For instance, the depot at Satellite, Lagos,
gives priority to Lagos and Ogun States. They lift the bulk of the products i.e Lagos State
is given about 50 trucks daily, while Ogun gets about 10 trucks. The rest of the Northern
States get about one each. In Mosomi Depot, Ondo and Ekiti States are given priority
while Ibadan Depot Oyo and Osun States take the bulk of the products. In Kaduna,
priority attention is given to Kaduna State and Abuja, Capital Territory. These lopsided
and discriminatory allocations in favour of the so-called catchment areas are

103
 responsible for the meagre supply of 3 trucks a day which Katsina State receives from
Kaduna Refinery.
(e) The change of policy of the Federal Government, which gives Major Marketers 60% of
the products while 40% is given to the Independent Marketers has reduced our supply
considerably because we have more Independent Marketers than Major Marketers in
the State and as such the latter have more outlets than the former in the State Capital in
particular and the State in general. Katsina State is given 3 trucks daily only and these
are shared 2 to Major Marketers while 1 is given to about 60 Independent Marketers.
The Major Marketers Representatives who lift the products from Kaduna Depot take
them only to the Southern Part of Katsina State which falls within their administrative
control. The one truck given to the Independent Marketers will also invariably go to the
Southern Part of the State because there are more Independent Marketers from the
Southern Part of the State than there are in the State Capital. In addition, the
Independent Marketers in the State Capital, who rarely get the products from Kaduna
now, have more Filling Stations than the Major Marketers who are having one Filling
Station each only.
(f) The failure of Kaduna Refinery to pump the products to the various Depots in Kano,
Gusau, Jos, Maiduguri and Gombe has forced the far Northern States to converge at
the Refinery in Kaduna to struggle for the small quantity of the products remaining
after satisfying Kaduna and Abuja, and to depend more and more on bridging from the
south. One of the side effects of this development is to introduce sharp and unsavoury
practices into the system. The officials cash on the situation, and created what they
called "OFF ALLOCATION", i.e favoured allocation to Independent Marketers mostly.
This allocation is called "Off' because it is entirely a separate allocation being made to
an individual Marketer who is able to buy the favour of the Depot Officials. The
practice which started as casual, has now become the order of the day and in effect, is
given priority over the official allocation to the States because everyday it is found that
the "Off' allocation is more than official allocation. While they give one truck each to
the far Northern States, they give twenty or more trucks as "Off' allocation. The "Off'

104
 allocation is a clear case of open bribery and corruption. Besides, it distorts the picture
of the domestic oil market and the result is that of diversion of the products to
destinations they are not intended in what the Marketers call "CHUWA-CHUWAR MAl".
You find a loaded truck scheduled to go to Katsina diverted to Jigawa and vice versa.
(g) The delay in processing bridging permits whereby Marketers have to apply to the
Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Ltd (PPMC) in Lagos where the applications
are processed, approved and subsequently sent to Kaduna Area Office for distribution to
the Marketers has adversely affected the lifting of the products. Added to this, the
Permit is issued quarterly which means that after every three months the process has to
start all over again. The procedure is cumbersome and time wasting.
(h) The whimsical changing of bridging depots by the PPMC, Lagos is another reason for
causing fuel scarcity. The Northern States which are the only ones bridging Petroleum
Products from the Southern Part of the country, are constantly being inundated by the
sudden transfer from one bridging depot to another by the PPMC without any notice
or explanation. Even the officials of the depots are not being consulted before the
transfer is made and the marketers who have settled in one area and are used to its
environs suddenly find their state transferred to a new area. These transfers are so
sudden, frequent and without any warning or due consideration to the extent that they
become disorganized and it takes them time before they get the situation back to
normal to start lifting the products once again. This interim period of suspense causes
scarcity of fuel.
(i) The refusal of some of the depot managers to deal with the officials of the
various State Task Forces is another reason for the scarcity. The depot managers for
corrupt reasons will always prefer to deal with the so-called Coordinators of the Agents
of the Independent Marketers who are called depot supervisors (DS). All the wheeling
and dealing which take place at the depot managers and their go-between with the
depot supervisors of the Independent Marketers. The depots have virtually been turned
into open markets where money changes hands in respect of oil deals. One sees
hundreds of people trooping into the depots and milling around for an opportunity to

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 strike a deal. The end result is diversion of the products to unknown destinations.
(j) The activities of an association called IPMAN (Independent Marketers Association of
Nigeria) which is supposed to protect the interest of the Independent Marketers, has
instead become an obstacle to the smooth lifting of the products at the depots. The
representatives of this association, operating at the various depots have become so
selfish and as such they are serving only themselves. They are responsible for many of
the shady deals which take place daily at the depots. Instead of fighting for the
Independent Marketers to get more allocations, the IPMAN representatives fight for
themselves only. At all the depots, they get allocations of their own which they abuse by
selling them out at the depots to whoever is ready to pay the price because many of
them have no Filling Stations to which to take the products. This is the stinking system
which operates at the depots and is responsible for the corrupt practices like diversion
and theft of the products. The NNPC Loading Personnel are being bribed to put extra
litres while loading a truck. For instance, if a truck is to be loaded with 33,000 litres of
petrol as its full capacity paid for, the Loading Personnel will put 7,000 extra litres. The
Marketers will pay the Loading Personnel an agreed sum as their share of the deal.
Recently, there had been hew and cry against the corrupt activities of the IPMAN
representatives at Kaduna refinery and the NNPC was forced to institute an enquiry as a
result of which the representatives of the IPMAN and the guilty workers were flushed
out of the refinery. This action of the NNPC however, though unprecedented was just a
slap on the wrist and a mere palliative as it amounted to putting new wine in an old
bottle because those who were removed were quickly replaced by a new set of people,
which only means that it is the same game, second round.
(k) The oil politics is the crux of the matter. For some reasons, the governments of the
Northern States which always get hit by the scarcity of petroleum products do not want
to get involved in oil politics as to act decisively for a permanent solution. It is evident
that the economy of the Northern States is being strangled and the society is being put
in disorder and hardship by refusing to supply the products in sufficient quantities thus
causing unbearable scarcity. The authorities should be able to see the long hand of

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 corruption and politics stretching out there aimed at destroying the economy of the
states. Oil is the lynch pin for economic development and without it everything will
virtually come to a stand-still and the society will be in chaos and disorder.
(i) The Independent Marketers who form the bulk of the oil operators in the domestic
market do not have the financial capacity and the technical know-how to play a decisive
role. They are acting single handedly as individuals with very limited resources in a game
of intensive capital investment and therefore can not compete with the Major
Marketers many of which are multi-national. Added to this, the employees of the
Independent Marketers do not in majority possess either the basic requisite
qualifications or the professional or technical training of any sort to put them at par with
the employees of the Major Marketers. The fact is that many of these Independent
Marketers' Managers know next to nothing about oil. The Independent Marketers are
therefore nothing but dogs in the manger and when the chips are down, you will find
them increasingly depending on Major Marketers for their supply of the products. For
instance, the three big Independent Marketers operating in Katsina are lifting the
products from the Major Marketers. Alhaji Dahiru Mangal gets his supply from
Unipetrol, Alhaji Danlami Mashasha obtains his from A.P while Haske receives it from
National Oil.
(m) Proliferation of Independent Marketers: Our travail-in the domestic oil market started
when the so-called Independent Marketers made their debut on the scene. No thanks
to the bending of the rules to issue licences to hundreds of individuals who are mostly
the fronts of some generals who were then at the helm of affairs in the country. Before
the advent of these nouveau riche generals, a person must have at least six filling
Stations before he could be considered for a licence to operate as a marketer but
nowadays people who do not have even a single filling station are granted licence as
marketers. The oil market as a result of this indiscriminate issuing of licence, has
become saturated, uncontrollable, chaotic and disorderly. These so-called Independent
Marketers are responsible for the commission of all types of offences like hoarding,
hawking, smuggling, diversion, siphoning, etal of the products.

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(n) Diversion of products meant for Katsina by Kano State Committee.
Investigations have revealed that Kano State Committee on Petroleum Products
engaged in the habit of diverting of products belonging to other states, which pass
through Kano. Katsina State has often become victim of this act of Kano State
Committee. In addition, whenever there is local lifting from Kano Depot, the bulk of the
products, is always given to Kano State. Whenever we protest to the Depot Manager he
always says that he is following order from above.
(o) The continued outrageous NEPA outages day and night on end, affect the
production capacity of the refineries all over the country and also at the Filling Stations
which have no generating sets cannot sell the products, although we have directed all
marketers to install generating sets at their Filling Stations. They are complying.
(p) Lack of local lifting of the products from Kano Depot has reduced the quantity of supply
of the products for Katsina State.
(q) Constant vandalizing of the oil pipelines by criminals affects the flow of the products as
sometimes it takes a long time before the damage is discovered because it can happen
right inside the bush. The NNPC Depot Crew has to conduct a patrol covering several
kilometres before the broken pipes are discovered.
(r) Recent unrests in the country especially the Kaduna riots and the tribal killings in Yoruba
land and now the Igbo area, have caused a lot of insecurity to tanker drivers who feel
unsafe to leave their native areas and venture into hostile territories. The southern
drivers are afraid to come to the North while the northern drivers are equally afraid to
go the south.
(s) The deliberate policy of the Federal Government to withhold supply of the
products in order to create scarcity for the purpose of defeating the populace
opposition of deregulation and pump price hike.
(t) The credibility gap created by the announcement of the NNPC Officials does not help
matters especially by the Managing Director, Mr. Gaius Obasaki, who stated that the
Kaduna refinery was holding a stock of 86 million litres of petroleum products whereas
enquiry revealed that there was no occasion when the refinery has more than 3.2

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 million litres. The most amazing thing is that officials have the courage to face the nation
and tell incorrect stories and get away with it. Nobody has ever bothered to take them
to task.
(u) Sheer incompetence, unpatriotism, politics and corruption are the bane of the lucklustre
performance of the 4 refineries which have remained sick babies and have refused to
grow up. These refineries are the product of high technology and it requires
consummate skill and knowledge to handle them efficiently. Incompetence has become
the national character of this country and its impact is being felt everywhere like in the
Nigeria Airways, Nigerian Railways, NEPA, NITEL, Nigerian Shipping Line, etc. It would do
a world of good if we swallow our national pride and either privatize the refineries or
hire them out to the technologically advanced countries which have managerial capacity
to maintain them efficiently on our behalf The age of high technology (High Tech) which
is making waves in the advanced countries has not come to Africa. The wish of the
developing countries to get the technologically advanced countries to transfer
technology has remained an international political gimmics as there is no genuine
efforts by the latter to do so. It has remained a forlorn hope and a mirage for the
developing countries.
(v) On the home front, we have the menacing activities of hawkers who siphon away
the products from the Filling Stations to the roadsides and the surface tanks. The
hawkers are encouraged by the lack of effective law to deal with the menace and are
therefore acting with impunity. It has been pointed out to the authorities times
without number that there must be a strong legislation to deal effectively with
hawking which renders the Filling Stations dry. The government appears to be shy
about the issue, hoping that it will one day disappear miraculously.
(w) There is also the problem of maintenance culture. It is evident that these highly
sophisticated machines require regular maintenance which they do not get and as
such they eventually breakdown.
2. Action of the Committee: After marshalling the causes for the re-surfacing of fuel
scarcity in the state, the Committee went into action again. The Secretary to the

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State Government called for a meeting which was chaired by the Permanent
Secretary Special Duty. As a result of the meeting, the Committee decided to launch
a three-prong attack to combat the scarcity especially in the state capital, where it is
being felt more: Three teams were quickly despatched. The first team headed by the
Deputy Chairman went to Lagos to appeal to the Major Marketers to send as many
trucks as they can afford by bridging in order to bring the products to the state. The
team visited all the headquarters of the eight Major Marketers in Lagos viz. AGIP,
A.P, ELF, MOBIL, NATIONAL OIL, TEXACO, TOTAL and UNIPETROL. The visit was
successful as the Oil Companies were happy to receive the Deputy Chairman and
regarded the visit as a recognition given to them. They therefore felt encouraged to
go out of their way to assist Katsina State. They sent in as many trucks as they could
but the reality of the situation is that their own stocks have depleted considerably
and they have not been allowed to replenish them by import as they were asked to
rely on NNPC only. The second team with the Secretary of the Committee went to
Kaduna to appeal to the Area Manager of the PPMC to increase Katsina State
Allocation from the three trucks daily to five. However, when the team met the
Manager, he could only re-affirm the 3 trucks daily allocation with the promise that it
would be regularly maintained by the depot Chief. The third team with the Chairman
of the Committee personally in charge, first went to the State House of Assembly on
invitation where he was interviewed by the House Committee on petroleum
products. A lively discussion about the situation ensued and the causes for the
scarcity were re-capitulated succinctly. In the end, the Members of the House
Committee decided, they too would visit the Oil depots in their bid to help improve
the situation. They visited Kano where they held discussions with the Depot Manager
and the members of the Katsina State Committee on Petroleum. From Kano, they
proceeded to Kaduna to see the Area Manager of PPMC with a view to requesting
him for an increase in the allocation for Katsina State. After seeing the Area Manager,
they proceeded to Abuja to see the Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products
Marketing Company (PPMC). I have not had the opportunity to know how successful

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their mission was. However, I went to Kaduna to hold discussions with the
representatives of the Major Marketers who are now lifting the local products at the
refinery but are not sending them to the northern parts of the state particularly the
state capital. After a long discussion, they told me that they could not bring the
products to northern Katsina as their area of jurisdiction covers only southern
Katsina. In the end, we came to the conclusion that since they are now lifting the
bulk of Katsina state allocation, they must find means of bringing the products to
every part of the state especially the State Capital which is becoming very dry. They
advised that NNPC should be approached to give them permit to bridge the products
to northern Katsina, the Capital inclusive. This in effect means that NNPC should be
able to pay for the bridging, i.e the transport differentials from Funtua to Katsina
otherwise if they do it on their own, they will incur losses as NNPC may not agree to
pay the transport differentials. I therefore went to the Office of the Area Manager
where I met the State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on petroleum
products with his other members, waiting to see the Manager too but he was absent.
We therefore agreed that I should brief them about my mission to add to their own
since they decided to spend more days in Kaduna to wait to see the Manager. After
briefing them, I proceeded to Kano to see the Depot Managers of the Major
Marketers within whose jurisdiction northern Katsina fall. I did not arrive in Kano well
in time to enable me see them all as their offices are situated in different parts of the
city. I came back only to return two days later and I was fortunate to have plenty of
time to see all the eight Major Marketers Depot Managers. At Agip, I raised the issue
of their dormant filling station which had been out of operation for a long time. They
told me the problem was that they have just carried out major electrical repairs on
the station which amounted to about (N86,000.00) Eighty Six Thousand Naira Only
and that the dealer had to agree to pay the amount. He would have to make
substantial deposit of money also in his operational account which had been in red.
These matters have since been settled and I am glad to report that the filling station
has been re-activated. At National Oil, I complained about the irregular operation of

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 their filling station along IBB Way. They told me that the problem was with their
dealer whom they could not reach. I told them that they should tell him to be serious
with his dealership or else they should change him. At African Petroleum, I told them
of the general complaint against their dealer and they should take immediate steps
to change him. They have since complied and they have appointed a new dealer.
With the rest of the marketers, I urged them to re-double their efforts by bridging in
order to help Katsina State to get out of the present situation. Bridging has become
essential since local lifting from Kano depot is not possible. During the discussion, I
threw a carrot to the effect that land is available in any part of the State especially
the State Capital, for them to build filling stations as at present they have one each
only in the Capital. In the alternative, I would endeavour to find any of the
Independent marketers who are ready to either sell or rent out their dormant filling
stations. They all showed interest particularly TOTAL and AP whose Manager had
already come for that purpose and I got Alhaji Barau Yaro to agree to rent out to
them his GRA filling station. Negotiations will soon commence in earnest and I hope
agreement for the take over will soon be reached. That's sums up the efforts of the
Committee to see that oil continue to flow in Katsina state and in particular the
capital. It is a fact of life that there is no scarcity of the products in other parts of the
state but only the capital is drying up. Although, we are not yet out of the woods, it is
obvious that the visits undertaken by the members of the committee in an effort to
garmer support have gulvanised the entire oil market community into action and the
oil trucks will continue to trickle into the capital and sooner than later we will have
cause to smile.
3. Recommendations: This submission will classify the causes for the scarcity
into two viz. immediate and remote and equally their remedies into immediate and long
term. For the immediate, it is considered germane to:
(a) Transfer the power or authority of processing and approving of licence for
bridging of Petroleum Products from the PPMC to Kaduna Area Office for the
convenience of the Independent Marketers in the far northern states.

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(b) The licence which is being issued quarterly now should be made annual and
payable at the preceding year or at the beginning of the ensuing one. It is recommended
that the State government should take this up with PPMC Lagos immediately.
(c) Marketers should be allowed to freely bridge the products from the depot
convenient to them. The present system whereby the PPMC officials sit in their offices
and whimsically change bridging depots is anti-free market system which operates in
this country. The fear perhaps is that if the marketers are allowed to lift the bridging
products freely from the depot they choose, some depots will be congested while others
will be empty without marketers. This argument can easily be debunked by saying that
since it is a free enterprise, wherever the marketers find there is congestion, they will
quickly switch to another depot where they have information that there is no
congestion. Even now, despite the unwarranted intervention of the PPMC, one finds
that the marketers lift the products from various depots not only those designated for
their States.
(d) Kaduna refinery should be made to perform at full capacity. It is instructive to note that
the depot in the south like Satellite, Lagos, Mosomi, Shagamu and Ibadan from where
the Northern states marketers are forced to bridge, are always having more of the
products than Kaduna refinery itself. It is therefore deliberate that the refinery is not
given sufficient supply of the crude products or refined enough for the Northern States.
Why should a depot which receives the products from a refinery get them more than a
refinery? The State government should take this up with the NNPC, Abuja. It does not
need to be said twice over that with the security situation in the country, the long
distance haulage of the products from the south to the north is very risky and
hazardous. The Hausa tanker driver whose tribe has now become an endangered specie
in the south especially in Yoruba area, is afraid of his dear life to risk such a long distance
journey without any protection whatsoever and if in the course of such journey he gets
killed nobody will raise a finger not to speak of demanding for compensation for his
family.

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(f) The Major Marketers who now lift 60% of the products at Kaduna refinery should be
given permit by the NNPC, Kaduna to bridge to Katsina, the State Capital, because their
area of jurisdiction stops at southern part of the State, i.e Funtua. If they are to bring the
products to Katsina, they must be paid transport differentials, i.e the distance between
Funtua and Katsina.
(g) The Federal government should be asked to do two things immediately. Firstly, to
instruct NNPC to make available enough of the products to the northern states and it
should forget about deregulation and increase of pump price. Secondly, the Major
Marketers should be permitted at once to import the products in order to make for the
short fall as it is a pipe dream to rely on the NNPC alone to produce enough of the
products for the country.
(h) Bridging the products from the south to the north, is the main source of our supply at
the moment, should be reduced to the barest minimum because it is arduous and
tedious and so the bulk of our supply should come from Kaduna refinery and from the
various depots of Kano, Gusau, Jos, Makurdi and so on.
(i) NNPC should instruct all its depots' managers to stop "off" allocation with
immediate effect. This practice must be stopped if the depots are to be sanitized and
bribery and corruption be wiped out.
(j) The activities of IPMAN (Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria) must
be checked, if not outright removal of its members from the depots as they are the real
obstacles to smooth operation of the depots and to getting steady supply of the
products.
(k) Investigate as to why the Northern States are being short supplied of the products at
both sources, i.e the refinery in Kaduna where they get only one truck a day each or
bridging from the south where they get about the same number of trucks. It is
impossible for the economy to develop and grow when there is not enough and regular
supply of petroleum products since all economic activities depend on the availability of
the products.

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(l) The State Government must brace-up itself to oil politics and for the immediate, it is
recommended that the managers of the Major Marketers based in Kano depots and
selected Independent Marketers from the three senatorial zones be invited to a party at
the Government House. At the party, all related issues should be discussed thoroughly
including finding ways and means of increasing the supply of products to the State. After
the party, certificates should be given to them in appreciation of their efforts to bring
more fuel into the State especially during the crisis. The Committee has already
designed such a certificate and attached is a copy for your perusal and approval.
4. Long Term Solutions:
(a) It is observed that the eight Major Marketers of African Petroleum (A.P), Agip, Elf,
Mobil, National, Texaco and Unipetrol have only one filling station each in the capital. It
is therefore suggested that they should be formally invited by the Government to
construct more filling stations by making land available to them. They should also be
encouraged to buy or rent filling station of the Independent Marketers who for financial
resources or otherwise have not been able to manage these outlets.
(b) As the stability of the country is now in doubt, it is imperative that the far north looks
for alternative source of energy. There has been talking of a Trans Sahara Highway
which will start from either Sokoto or Katsina through Niger Republic to link Libya and
Algeria in North Africa. It is high time this proposition is renewed and pursued with
vigour because in the event of crisis in the country Libya and Algeria can supply us with
the energy we need and we can then forget about energy from' the south. It is
necessary that we put out our thinking caps and act now to avoid future regrets. These
countries plus Sudan which has oil also, are Islamic and therefore they will be
sympathetic and friendly to our cause. All it will require is an approach for a dialogue.
The veterans of the civil war who did similar but military arrangement with Egypt then
are still alive and they will be too glad to do it once again. We can bring in crude and
refine it in our Kaduna refinery. It is said that if you want peace you must prepare for
war. We must avoid being caught unawares.

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(c) Demand for additional refinery to be built in Kano because in our dychotomous political
system, the south has already three refineries and the fourth is in the offing and
therefore there is no harm in demanding for a second one for the north.
(d) Seize the opportunity of the Constitutional Review to request for oil to be placed on
Concurrent Legislative List to enable states make laws to control hawking, diversion,
hoarding, siphoning away, adulteration of the products, etc. At the moment there is no
law to deal with these offences effectively. State government also should have the
power to issue licence to marketers in their states for control as against the present
situation where the marketers just arrive in the State with their licences to operate.
These licences are not issued by the Federal government but by the NNPC. By this
arrangement the authority of the NNPC a parastatal is made superior to that of the
State government. The arrangement is in favour of the Federal government and
therefore it is high time the mistake is corrected. You can see now what happens. Here
is the State Government faced by an avalanche of manacing multifarious activities of
these law breakers and is unable to do anything about them. The Federal government
does not have very much stake in the affairs of the States.
(e) The lists of both the causes of the scarcity as well as the solutions to them are far from
being exhaustive. However, it is considered sufficient numbers of both factors have
been adduced to enable the authority take positive action immediately to turn the
situation around otherwise we will be having these petroleum crises with regular
abandon and they can be very disturbing and nasty as they cripple our economic
activities. It must be realised that the credit for making petroleum products available in
abundance which we all enjoyed during the last six months, undoubtedly goes to the
last military government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, which made the
arrangement before it quit office but for political reasons, the present civilian
government claimed the honour. The NNPC stood idly by and did nothing until now that
the arrangement has expired and we are faced with another fuel crisis, the bogey of
which had been thought to have been laid to rest for good.
5. Conclusion: The truth must be told that the nineteen northern governors must willy-nilly

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act in concert to tackle the now perennial petroleum products scarcity. The stability of
their governments as well as that of the centre for that matter, largely depend on the
availability of petroleum products which provide the engine room for economic
development and growth. The governors should sit down and work out an enduring
strategy which will bring lasting solution to the fuel crisis and take firm measures to
prevent future occurrence. The time has come for the governments to act collectively
and decisively for a panacea.

Mudi A. Kurfi
CHAIRMAN
Committee on Procurement, Monitoring & Distribution
of Petroleum Products Katsina State.

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 B
THE FUEL CRISIS IN THE COUNTRY CAUSES AND SOLUTION

WRITTEN BY:

ALH. M. A. KURFI

JUNE 2000

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 THE FUEL CRISIS IN THE COUNTRY CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

The spectre of fuel scarcity is now rearing its ugly head once again after a spell of about
six months of plenty since the inception of the present government in May last year. This bogey
which haunted the country for more than a decade before, was thought to have ended for good
and its ghost had been laid to rest for good and never to rise again. However, this was never to
be as the situation has now recurred all of a sudden and we are now feeling its devastating
effect in every corner of the northern parts of the country. The queues, the surface tanks and
the roadside hawkers are back with the concomitant ugly side effects of all manner of
unsavoury and sharp practices of diversion, hoarding, siphoning, hawking, adulteration,
smuggling, corruption and tampering with pump metres. Business as usual is back in full swing
and the rush for the black gold is on again. The prices of the products in the black market have
escalated sky-high and opportunists money bags have joined the rat race to become over night
oil marketers. They have in effect taken-over the business and are now all over the place in full
control. They are holding the country to ransom with reckless abandon in their greedy bid to
become rich over-night.
The authorities concerned which have their back to the wall are standing idly by
watching, unable or unwilling to do anything in order to sanitize the situation and restore
normalcy except for the occasional issue of statements which contain nothing but distorted nay
false facts and figures in order to compound the issue. It is only in Nigeria where a top
government functionary issues deliberate falsehood to the public without fear of being
challenged or sacked for that matter. This practice of deliberate lying to the public has become
a national character of the Nigerian Public Service especially the politicians. These false
statements are usually issued not only to deceive the members of the public but to cover up
corruption and incompetence. For instance, somebody did not do his job or has corruptly
siphoned away funds or materials meant for some projects as a result of which a bad situation
arose, so in order to cover up himself, he issues a completely false statement and that will close
the matter while he gets away with it. This is what practically is happening in the fuel crisis
today. One finds the top management of the NNPC claiming that there are more than enough
of the products in the refineries and they have stocks of millions of litres of the products

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whereas when one checks on the ground, one finds that this is nothing but prevarication for
political reasons, the official gets away with it and therefore keeps his job. The government
must adopt a very strong policy to stop the rot. Officials who make such dissembling
statements should be made to own up and be punished.
2. The Causes:
The causes of the current fuel crisis are legion and varied but for the purpose of this
exercise only the most important ones will be discussed. These causes can be classified into
immediate and remote.
a. Immediate Causes:
i. The Performance of the Refineries: First and foremost among the immediate causes is
the epileptic performance of the four refineries in the country as none of them is producing at
full capacity because they are prone to constant shut down due to multi-dimensional
malfunctions and afflictions like constant mechanical break down, incessant fire incidents and
crippling power failure or the a ritual turn around maintenance which is usually announced with
a lot of fanfare. These refineries have become sick babies and have refused to grow up. They
are products of high tech, which is now making waves in Europe and America but has not come
to Africa. The much touted transfer of technology from the developed world to the developing
countries of Africa has remained a pipe dream and a mirage. The refineries no doubt require
great managerial skill and technological expertise to maintain them and make them perform. It
will be nothing but self- deceit if the authority lay claim to possession of such expertise by the
indigenous technicians. Take for instance the Kaduna refinery which is supposed to serve all the
Northern states as its catchment area, is continuously being laid to waste as it has never
worked at 50% capacity. It is being afflicted by multifarious sicknesses, most of which have no
cure ie, today it is power failure due to NEPA outage, tomorrow it is fire outbreak and the day
after tomorrow it is mechanical break down due to lack of spare parts. These incidents keep on
coming every too often like a bad dream to the extent that the refinery is nothing but a white
elephant.

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ii. Suspected sabotage:
However, investigations have revealed that the cause of the lacklustre performance is
due to sabotage in order to destroy the northern states economy for political reasons. The
refinery which is one of the biggest in the country is designed to provide many other facilities
apart from refining the crude oil. The refinery is now sitting crippled like a lame duck producing
occasionally only a trickle of what it is supposed to produce. The situation is intolerable as one
finds that the work force of the refinery is dominated by a particular section of the country
whose insatiable opposition to northern interests is well known and this has definitely impinged
on the Northern psyche. These saboteurs are sacred cows and no one can touch them. The
authorities concerned know about it all but has done nothing so far to prevent it. As a result,
the economy of the Northern states is being strangled while the communities are left to dree in
their own weird as no body champions their cause. The Northern state governments have
unfortunately adopted a culture of passivity, smug complacency, mute indifference and cold
diffidence even where the issues at stake are so high as they touch the heart and soul of the
economic, social, political or religious well being of their people. A leadership which has not
identified itself with the wishes and aspirations of its subjects, must be prepared to bear the
brunt if the people decide on their own to snatch the initiative from it in order to protect these
vital interests of theirs.
iii. The Depots:
Having looked into the performance of the four refineries, it is considered germane to
put the search light on the depots. There are twenty four NNPC depots scattered all over the
country from which the petroleum products are supposed to be lifted. However investigation
has revealed that of all the twenty four depots none is working at full capacity. Take for
instance the Kaduna depot which was designed to load about 14 trucks or tankers at the same
time for petrol, diesel and kerosene but one finds that only four or five of the loading arms are
working, the rest are in a state of disrepair and they have not been repaired due to lack of spare
parts or funds the officials claimed. The depot at satellite, Lagos has about 16 loading arms but
only about four are in good working condition. It is the same story in Mosimi, Shagamu depot
which has only two loading arms. The story is also the same with the rest of the depots in the

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country. Due to lack of functioning loading arms the number of trucks which can be loaded
daily has been reduced greatly and as such there are always long queues of trucks waiting to be
loaded at those depots with the concomitant delay, jostling and bustling and other unsavoury
practices. If all the loading arms are working fully, thousands of trucks will be loaded daily and
there will be no queues at all at the depots but for some inexplicable reasons no repairs are
being carried out on these badly needed loading arms. Added the fact that of these twenty four
depots only half a dozen have petroleum products pumped into them, the rest are sitting idle
and the workers have become redundant receiving their monthly pay under false pretences.
There are about ten of these depots in the north i.e in Maiduguri, Gombe, Yola, Jos, Makudi,
Suleja, Ilorin, Kaduna, Kano and Gusau but of all these only Kaduna and Ilorin get petroleum
products the rest have been as dry as the desert for years and no body seems to bother.
iv. Insecurity of tanker drivers at bridging:
The absence of petroleum products in the northern depots has forced the northern
marketers to bridge (long distance haulage from the southern part of the country). This bridging
which means taking a truck all the way from Maiduguri to Lagos or from Sokoto to Port-
Harcourt, has a number of draw backs. Even if the product is ready for the truck to load on
arrival at the bridging depot the round trip will take at least ten days. This is bad enough but
what happens usually is worse than this as immediately the truck arrives it will join the queue
and waits for its turn, which may take one month or more before it is loaded. In addition there
is insecurity on the part of the northern tanker driver whose tribe has now become an
endangered species in the country and so he is afraid to venture out of his own safe enclave to
travel to the south where there is every possibility of him getting killed and his tanker set ablaze
by the raving lunatics of the OPC or some other brand of blood thirsty hate killers who use their
seasonal, primitive and arcane rituals of idol worship as a cover to perpetrate evil. The road is
therefore left to the bold and the daring driver but he too must make sure he goes with his
shroud in the cabin in case it comes.
Wear and Tear of Trucks: Besides the insecurity, the long haulage from Maiduguri to Lagos or
from Sokoto to Part-Harcourt, which is obviously hazardous, arduous and tedious, takes its toll
on the tankers due to wear and tear. A truck with an estimated 20 years life span will not last

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for half that period in good working condition.

v. Inefficiency of NNPC officials:

The management PPMC is not by any standard a paragon of efficiency because the officials
are bureaucrats rather than technocrats. They sit in their air conditioned offices and dish out
instructions to the depot managers with out knowing the situation on the ground. In the end
many of these instructions become counter productive and therefore are an anathema rather
than a panacea to the running of the depots which arc responsible for the distribution of the
petroleum products to outlets in the states and Abuja Capital. From their lofty offices they issue
directives grouping states to lift the products from a particular depot irrespective of whether it
has facilities to render such services or not. It is not being facetious to say that sometimes these
instructions fall from sublime to ridiculous, for example there was time when more states were
directed to lift the products from Mosimi Shagamu than those to lift at satellite, Lagos whereas
the former had eight working loading arms while the latter had only two but more ridiculous is
that Mosimi depot had more than four times of the products in stock than satellite, Lagos.
Added that Mosimi pumps the products to satellite Lagos. To cap it all, before the issuance of
these directives the depot managers who were the ground officers were never consulted.
These ridiculous instructions keep on coming like a bad dream as they are based on the whims
and caprices of the PPMC Headquarters staff who do nothing all day but hold endless meetings,
fidget with papers from office to office and then go on break.
vi. Faulty Distribution System
Another obstacle to the free flow of the petroleum products to the northern states is the
distribution system at the depots where states are allocated a number of trucks daily by the
depot manager who has absolute power of distribution. These lopsided allocations to the
states which are based on mere surmise rather than facts and figures leave much to be desired,
for example the catchment area or grade one or top priority or volatile states take the bulk of
the product, while the rest of the states are given only one or two trucks a day. It is ridiculous
to give a far away state like Katsina only one or two trucks daily while you give Lagos state fifty
or twenty for Ogun state. The system which is unfair, unjust, inequitable and corruption ridden

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is the cause of fuel shortage in the northern states. The marketer has to bribe his way in order
to get his truck loaded otherwise he will continue to suffer and the longer he stays to get his
truck loaded the more he incurs over-head costs. The products will therefore become more
expensive for him. The immediate side effect is the diversion of the products to surface tanks
and hawkers who are waiting in the wing with their money ready to pay the extra price. On the
other hand if the marketers are forced to discharge into the filling stations they will have to
tamper with the pump metres in order to increase the pump price illegally if they are to make
any profit to enable them stay afloat in the business.
vii. Issuance of Bridging Permit
To bridge at the southern depots the northern marketers have to obtain bridging permit
from PPMC, Lagos. The procedure to process their applications for the permits is too
cumbersome and time consuming. First the applications are submitted to PPMC Kaduna area
office from where they are processed to the headquarters in Lagos. Secondly, Lagos will check
them and process them to the stage where approval is obtained. Thirdly, the approvals are then
sent back to Kaduna Area office for distribution to the applicant marketers. This procedure has
to be repeated every three months for the permits are issued on quarterly basis. Often times
before one permit for one quarter is obtained another will be due and so the rigmarole
continues in the labyrinth of bureaucracy.
viii. Changing of lifting depots for the marketers:
The whimsical changes of lifting deports by PPMC, Lagos put the marketers off gear every
now and then. A group of states for instance will be transferred from one depot to the other
suddenly and without any notice whatsoever or due consideration of distance or convenience.
The marketers like nomadic Fulani have to be on the move as often as the changes are done
with such regular abandon. For example one finds that while a state is lifting the products at
satellite Lagos, it will suddenly be transferred to say Makurdi in Benue State and the marketers
will have to leave bag and baggage from Lagos to Makurdi. At the end of another short period,
the state may be transferred to Ilorin or Ibadan or back to Lagos. No explanation has ever been
given to the poor marketers who have become victims of the whims and caprices of PPMC
bureaucratic staff. The above list of the immediate causes of fuel shortage in the northern

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states, is far from being exhaustive, however it suffices to illustrate the point.

4. Remote Causes
It is considered appropriate at this juncture to quickly recapitulate the remote
causes of the scarcity.
i. Deregulation of Products: First, the mulish attitude of the Federal Government to
deregulate petroleum products has caused NNPC to withhold the supply of the
products deliberately in order to increase the price.
ii. Steady rise of crude in World market: The steady rise in the price of crude oil in the
world market has caused the major oil marketers to suspend importation of the
refined products into the country as the products have become more expensive
outside than in Nigeria and that the Federal Government is not ready to subsidise
the imports. NNPC is therefore left to do the importation but it is obvious that it
has neither the capacity nor the resources to import enough fuel for the country.
The result is short fall. However the device is suspect only to gain space to
increase the price of the products.
iii. Incompetence: Sheer incompetence which has become the national character of this
blessed country ranks high among the causes of NNPCs inability to flood the
country with sufficient quantities of the petroleum products from its four
refineries. The glaring effect of incompetence which is running like a thread
through many of our organisations like NEPA, Nigerian Airways, Nigeria Railways,
Nigeria Shipping Line, NITEL etc. is being felt every where. This is the age of
computer technology and our technicians do not possess the managerial skill or
the technological expertise to maintain the sophisticated machineries. It is
therefore apt to say that it is high time government swallows its national pride and
either privatise these refineries to share holders from the developed world who
have the managerial skill and the technological expertise to make them perform or
enter into agreement with them to hire them out to them to operate or perhaps
better still employ these foreign experts to operate and maintain them on its

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 behalf. There is no doubt that incompetence is the bane of the lackluster
performance of these refineries
iv. Un-patriotism and Politics: Coming hard on the heels of incompetence IS un-patriotism
and politics. Nigerian by his nature is a political animal and if is not mixing work
with religious politics or ethnic politics, he must be doing it with Naira politics. This
nation is therefore suffering from ideological vacuum and lack of National pride.
The majority of Nigerians are not loyal to the mother land and as such they are
unpatriotic but are absolutely loyal to the Naira which they worship and hanker to
possess. Every Nigerian has set a trap to catch the Naira and therefore all other
principles are thrown overboard. This is why the greedy elites can not rise to make
the country proud and a little taller among the comity of nations.
v. Bribery and Corruption: Bribery and corruption, the twin evils and the national malaise,
have eaten deep into the fabric of the countrys systems and have become canker
worms. These ubiquitous twins have hit at every door of our offices, factories,
institutions, and all other business places. They no longer hide or tread in darkness.
They walk along the streets in broad day light in a show off. Due to the palpable
presence of bribery and corruption, the NNPC depots where all wheeling and
dealing of oil takes place, have virtually become open markets where you see
hundreds of people from all walks of life milling around bustling and jostling every
morning in their bid to strike an oil deal.
vi. Off Allocation: The totem-pole of bribery and corruption in the NNPC depots is the "off
allocation". This is a creature of the deport managers who invented the odious
practice to make money. They allegedly collect up to N40,000.00 to N50,000.00
per truck load as bribe from the marketers. The "off allocation" is an unofficial
allocation which is made to individual marketers on payment of some money,
beside the allocation to states. It is given to individual in his name irrespective of
whether he has a service station or not. It is the same allocation like the one in
Peugeot car assembly or any textiles factory in the country which the holder can
sell for quick money. Unless bold steps are taken to cancel this illegal allocation the

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 proposed bill on bribery and corruption will be totally an exercise in futility. Most
of the products obtained through off allocation do not go to the service stations.
They are sold on the spot to smugglers, hoarders, hawkers etc. and that the
quantity siphoned away by this method is so large that it makes a whole difference
in the raging scarcity of the products. The quantity which gets to the service station
for the common man is therefore reduced. The off allocation must be eradicated
completely otherwise to end the scarcity will be wasted efforts because it will
never succeed. Most of the officials of NNPC and the subsidiary PPMC are neck-
deep in the game. Recently there were series of publications in some of the
national dailies in which serious allegations of extorting money from the marketers
for off allocation were made against the officials of PPMC Kano at Hotoro. It
must be stopped once and for all, otherwise the Northern states will continue to
battle with fuel scarcity
vii. The IPMAN: The ignoble role being played by the members of the IPMAN (Independent
petroleum marketers association of Nigeria) has a telling effect on the supply of
petroleum products. The organisation which is a national umbrella created,
supposedly to protect the interest of independent petroleum marketers has been
turned into a tool in the hands of corrupt officials of the organisation under the
guise of representing the marketers. These officials have succeeded in warming
their way into the depot managers with whom they work in tandem all over the
country. As a result of this unholy alliance they receive off allocations of a
number of trucks of petroleum products from each of the depots everyday. These
trucks are given out in the name of these officials on personal basis and they share
them among themselves to sell on the spot and pocket the proceeds. They also
interfere with the allocation of the products to the states as they prepare the daily
allocation schedule. They also act as agents of the managers in shady deals for
which large sums of money exchange hands daily. Recently, it can be recalled that
there was a near riot situation at the Kaduna depot due to the activities of IPMAN
officials to the extent that they have to be banned from entering the premises

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 before peace was restored. They are experts in bandying about fantastic stories of
success of their organisation and its achievements. Recently, they were heard
saying that they were planning to build two refineries in the country and that last
year they imported refined petroleum products worth about one billion naira. They
claimed to have made millions of naira profit from the sale of the imported oil but
nobody saw the money. Investigation however has revealed that these are made
up stories. In fact as is usual with crooks and dishonest people it is always when
sharing the spoil that quarrel arises. Rumour is abroad now that these officials
have fraudulently diverted most of the profit made and that the members of the
organisation who contributed to the capital to import the products have not
received their share of the profit. These officials are up for re-election this year but
knowing fully well that they have not done any thing for the organisation but only
for themselves, they engage in all kind of manoeuvre and manipulation to
postpone the elections and extend their tenure. The common man has suffered
enough as a result of their selfish leadership. The evidence is there as you can see
the beautiful service stations they have built all over the country but they do not
bring fuel to them as they are only being used to meet NNPC criterion fur
allocation of petroleum products. They are there just for show in order to deceive
the people.
viii. The Tanker Drivers Union: Another organisation whose activities have become a
threat to the free flow of petroleum products in the northern states, is the tanker's
drivers union. The oil tanker drivers realised that the commodities they toil to bring
from one part of the country to another are essential and so they assumed an air
of importance and relevance. They formed a union in order to protect their
interests and to act as a pressure group in the country. During the military era the
union became a force to reckon with to the extent that its members felt so
powerful as to blackmail the authorities. They embarked on wild cat strikes with
reckless abandon at the slightest provocation and held the country to ransom. The
military on the ill-advice of the corrupt civil servants yielded to the pressure of the

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 union and adopted a policy of appeasement and compromise towards it thereby
making one concession after another. The union therefore became very powerful
and its members who are 90% illiterate drivers, were recognized by both the
Federal and State Governments which included them on petroleum task forces.
Their functions included provision of escort for the tankers, carrying out patrol on
the high ways to prevent diversion of the products and manning the service
stations to supervise the sales of the products. It should be remembered that the
period was that of acute, prolonged and unprecedented fuel scarcity in the country
and the authorities were overwhelmed by the situation which had defied solutions.
The tanker drivers union therefore became a hydra-headed monster overwhelming
its masters. Its members became uncontrollable and a menace, thus engaging in
many dubious activities which were detrimental to the availability of petroleum
products. They were found conniving with dishonest marketers to divert many
tankers and to sell the product to smugglers and hawkers. They blackmailed the
marketers by introducing many illegal levies in order to extort money with
menaces, and the marketers were not able to refuse to pay for fear of being
exposed. They also became hawkers themselves, buying and selling the products
from the black market. Whenever they were asked to escort a tanker to discharge
the products at the service station, they would connive with the marketer to
disengage only four of the six compartments of the tanker and then diverted the
remaining two compartments to hawkers. Their overall contribution to the solution
of fuel scarcity was therefore negative, hence many state task forces did away with
their services, while those which retained them would have to screen them and
curb their activities with a view to sanitising the system by bringing them under
proper control. Many a times they showed tendency to want to act on their own
with no regard to any superior authority whatever. They had to be reined in
otherwise they would add fuel to the activities of the black market.
ix. Vandalisation of Oil Pipelines: Vandalisation of oil pipelines ranks very high amongst the
catalogue of causes of present fuel scarcity in the country. The oil pipelines which

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have been laid underground and run across the country for the purpose of pumping
the petroleum products to the deports in different parts of the country, are being
daily vandalised by criminals who burst the pipes open and steal the flowing
products to sell in the black markets. Vandalisation of oil pipelines is essentially
crime of the south, and has not come to the north, in the south it is being
committed more frequently in Ibo speaking and Delta areas. Investigation has
revealed that vandalisation is a protest crime whose motive is multidimensional. Its
perpetrators in their own nitwit thinking are said to be protesting against the
federal government and NNPC whom they perceive are unjustifiably taking away
their riches and as such they are all determined to sabotage the efforts. There are
those of them who commit the crime for economic reasons. They know that the
commodities are scarce in the country and therefore they embark on their criminal
activities with a view to making extra naira by obtaining the products illegally and
selling them to the black market. There are members of the third group who think
that the pipes are conveying the products to the north which they think should not
have share of their God given wealth and so they embark on these acts of Sabotage.
For whatever reason, these criminal acts are tantamount to economic sabotage
which hinders the free flow of oil for the domestic market. Reports have it that
every year there are over one thousand cases of these acts of economic sabotage.
The crime is being committed with impunity and regular abandon. The federal
government, the NNPC and ditto the law enforcement agencies have not been able
to find a solution to the phenomenon and so the sabotage continues, The saboteurs
enter deep into the bush to commit their nefarious activities taking advantage of
the terrain of the area which makes it difficult to detect the spot except by use of
radar or computer. The NNPC patrol teams have to travel long distances in the bush
of thick forest and dense foliage before they detect the leaking pipes. Recently a
combined team of NNPC officials and law enforcement agents arrested some of
these criminals who had fully loaded seven tankers with the products. In a show of
pent up anger, the authorities set the tankers ablaze and the suspects were handed

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 over to the Police for further investigation. The federal government has to blame
itself for treating these saboteurs up initio with kid gloves for political reasons. The
crime is undoubtedly costing the NNPC colossal loss of funds and its operations are
being crippled by these criminals. The flow of oil is being hampered and there by
plunging the country in a very serious fuel crisis.
x. Credibility Gap Syndrome of NNPC Officials: The credibility gap syndrome which is a
creature of the NNPC chief executive is the bane of that poor organisation. He is a
presidential appointee and its stooge. He was picked for the post not because he is
a paragon of efficiency or of virtue by any stretch of imagination or the most senior
NNPC officer at the time but because he is the only one ready to do the presidential
bidding, carry out its secret agenda and protect its interest in this sensitive and vital
sector of the nations economy. However, instead of being the chief executive of
NNPC he has chosen to be its public relations officer. In his characteristic haughty
mien, he has developed an insatiable appetite for going to the press with false
statements concerning the oil situation in the country. He will give out facts and
figures manufactured in his cozy office and he will not shut his mouth and open his
brain to work hard in order to turn the situation around. He is more heard on the air
than seen on the ground. He is a wrong man put in a wrong place at a wrong time.
He has practically achieved nothing since his assumption of office. Instead of
making genuine efforts to put his house in order, he decided to engage in shadow
boxing, accusing this organisation and that of imaginary sabotage like diverting of
the products. He denied that there were fuel queues in the country which is far
from the truth. He is wearing two caps to wit the corporation Chief Executive and
the minister or is it adviser on petroleum resources. He is the presidential
spokesman on oil and as such he has been on the air and on the screen every now
and then, talking a lot of gibberish, while the supply of the products continues to
dwindle.

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5. A Recipe for Solutions:
The causes of the scarcity of petroleum products have been catalogued in the preceding
paragraphs. It is now appropriate to suggest solutions to the endemic problem.
a) The NNPC and its subsidiary the PPMC are amorphous and acephalous
organisations which require complete over haul by carrying out a neat surgical operation
of zero tolerance of bribery and corruption. All their officials who are involved in cases of
bribery and corruption should be shown the way out at once. However, care must be
taken to prevent witch hunting and ethnic cleansing. The organisations are ridiculously
over staffed and as such the operation should drastically reduce the number of Staff to
the level of efficiency. All these unnecessary, unwanted and rotten parts should be
amputated and there shall be no sacred cow. The organisations must be made cost
effective rather than cost benefit. The person to be appointed to head the re-organised
corporation, must perforce be a paradigm of impeccable honesty, transparency and
imbued with superlative managerial ideas. A person who can hold the line in any
circumstance and of proven competence, efficiency and a repository, of ideas.
b) Apply Economic of Scale: The re-organisation should aim at merging small units and
sections to avoid duplication and to take advantage of economy of scale. The duties and
responsibilities of the management should be streamlined and clearly spelt out. There
should be devolution of authority to avoid creating bottle necks. At the end of the re-
organisation a new born outfit should emerge as an efficient machine capable of taking
its rightful place in the scheme of things and able to play the vital role in the economic
system of the country.
c) Stop Practice of off-allocation: All depot managers should be instructed to cancel at once
off allocation and stop the corrupt practice and that with immediate effect all
allocations should be made to states only and not to individuals as is the case now. This
action will be in line with the recent decision taken by the federal government to cancel
all favoured licences for bunkering and lifting of petroleum products by individuals and
other unwanted groups.

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d) Give Choice of Lifting Products to Marketers: Marketers should be allowed to choose on
their own from which depot to lift the products. This will definitely reduce the
congestion at some of the depots, the intolerable delay, running cost, over head charges
and inconvenience. Bridging permits should be issued annually instead of quarterly at
present.
e) Privatise all Refineries: The most viable option for the four refineries is to privatise them
not to indigenous entrepreneurs but to foreign shareholders from developed countries
with modern management skill and technological expertise or we can hire them out to
these foreigners for an agreed sum while they maintain and operate them or if we want
to continue owning them, we can employ expatriates to maintain and operate them on
our behalf. This means that the top management positions should be occupied by these
foreigners. To do this, we must admit failure and swallow our national pride to get the
organization moving. Raison detre is not far to see as no amount of money spent on
these refineries can bring them back to life and make them produce at full capacity in
this regard one can easily recall that before General Abdul-Salami Abubakar left the
scene, he made sure he released an enormous amount of money to revive the refineries
but what happened? Most of the funds were diverted to award contracts for renovation
of buildings and purchase of vehicles and other unnecessary consumables. However, the
excuse now is that the contract for the Turn Around Maintenance was given to wrong
contractors who proved to be incapable. This is obviously a made up story and a mere
ruse to hoodwink the people. How many heads had rolled as a result of wrongful award
of the contract? No body had been held responsible for it.
f) Reduction of Number of Independent Marketers: Reduce the number of independent
marketers by placing stringent criteria for issuing licence, for example one must have a
number of service stations spread in at least two or three states before he can be
licensed as an independent marketer. Mergers by individual marketers to form a bigger
organisation in the form of conglomerate should be encouraged by introducing some
incentives in this wise. All fronts of the money bags and retired generals should be fished
out and their licences cancelled. They must have well qualified and highly trained

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 personnel in their employ. The present members of the staff of most of the independent
marketers do not have educational qualification beyond secondary school leaving
certificate and they know next to nothing about oil industry and its highly technical
knowledge. The marketers must have properly constructed offices with all necessary
facilities to enable them conduct the business in a proper manner. They must have
strong financial resources like fat bank accounts to back their businesses especially as the
oil industry is capital intensive. These constraints which manifest in the independent
marketers operations put them at a very serious disadvantage against the major
marketers which are multi-national. The independent marketers are at present operating
at the periphery of the domestic oil market. They are not doing well at all except those
which play second fiddle to the major marketers ie. they get the supplies through the
latter.
g) More Major Marketers with Foreign Financial Backing: Major marketer's which are
mostly foreign firms except the nationalised ones like Unipetrol, African Petroleum (AP)
and National Chemical and Oil Marketing Company, have strong financial backing and
that is why they are able to play a major role in the oil industry. They control over 60% of
the activities of the domestic oil market and the new federal government policy of selling
60% of the products to them has strengthened their position as many of the so called
independent marketers are tied to their apron strings. The three nationalised oil
companies should be privatised completely. Foreigners with the requisite expertise
should be called upon to participate with a sprinkle of indigenous shareholders. It is also
advised that the major marketers be permitted to import refined products into the
country in order to break NNPC monopoly otherwise we will continue to suffer the
scarcity as NNPC is not capable of supplying the country with all its needs.

h) The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN): The organization

called IPMAN should be banned from all the oil depots in the country because from
records available, the officials of this outfit are responsible for all the corrupt practices
which take place in the depots. They should be ordered to operate from outside the
depots and allow the depot officials a free hand to operate without let or hindrance.

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 These IPMAN officials are real obstacles to the free flow of oil products in the country
and therefore they must be removed from the depots if things are to be put right and
run smoothly. As long as they are allowed to stay in the depots offences of diversion,
hoarding and smuggling of the products will continue. These criminal activities are
obviously the causes of the scarcity of the products. The federal government must come
all out decisively and act with precision and firmness in this wise if we are to see to the
end of the present scarcity and eliminate the queues at the service station. The Federal
Government should not pay much attention to the politics involved in this organization
or else the result will be detrimental to its national interest.
6. CONCLUSION: It does not need to be said twice over that the oil industry is the linchpin
of the nations economy especially as Nigeria has become a mono-commodity exporting
country. The main problem which has bedevilled the industry is too much government control
and a myriads of competing and conflicting interests both foreign and domestic. It is
recommended that government should take a hard look at the industry with a view to re-
discovering the real causes of the problem and to take a very drastic action to deal with them.
The recently announced increase of the pump price of the two of the three main
products from N20.00k per litre to N22.00k for petrol (PMS) and from N19.00 to N21.00 per
litre for diesel (AGO) while the price of kerosine (DPK) remains at N17.00k per litre is treating the
symptom rather than the disease and the consequences of this action as its being witnessed,
were far reaching and beyond the expectation of the government. The bottom line is that the
price increase per se will not solve the problem of fuel scarcity in this country, nor will it make
the chronically ailing refineries fully functional.
These refineries have become bottomless pits and national drainpipes and will therefore
continue to gulf colossal public money only but they will never be revived to produce at full
capacity to meet the needs of the domestic oil market. They have already entered a state of
diminishing returns due to their ages.
The argument of the government that it wants money for national development,
repairing of the ailing refineries and that Nigerians are enjoying the cheapest oil in the world,
are nothing but a made up story which does not hold water. This was the same argument made

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by both presidents Babangida and late Abacha to increase the prices of the domestic products.
In the case of Babangida, the country did not witness any development and the money was
never accounted for whatever. The money went up in the thin air like ashes and disappeared. In
the case of Sani Abacha and to be fair to him, he created Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) which
received about 30% of the crude oil excess money and carried out tremendous developments in
all sectors of the economy for every body to see. However here too, no body knew what
happened to the 70% of the funds which went directly into government treasury. This goes to
show that if all the excess money was given to the PTF this country would have become an
earthly utopia with every part of it becoming fully developed and its citizens would have been
enjoying all the creature comforts which make life worthwhile. It is therefore going to be the
same story with the proceeds accruing from the present price increase.
In any case the president has to tell the nation the whereabouts of the money which as
accrued since he scrapped PTF? He has not given sufficient money to it to enable it pay all its
outstanding debts and then wind up. The organisation is in a state of coma and all its activities
have virtually stopped but it has not wound up. The money accrued as a result of the scrapping
should be enough for the president to carry out all the developments he required to do during
his four year tenure. He must be pressed now to come up with full explanation in facts and
figures as to what happened to the accrued funds since the stoppage of PTF activities.
The claim that Nigerians are enjoying the cheapest oil in the world is as bogus as those
who make it and can be dismissed with a wave of hand and conversely say that Nigerians are
receiving the lowest pay pocket in the world. Majority of its citizens do not earn more than
N100.00k a day which is equivalent to one dollar a day. In America, workers are being paid
about $10.00 an hour not a day! The argument is therefore wrong as the quality of life also has
not improved substantially for the citizenry. There is no water, no electricity, no good roads, no
medicine in the hospitals and no good schools. The citizen has to fend for himself all these
essentials of life.
He makes no claim to the government to provide them for him. Insecurity of life and
property has reached its nadir in the country and the citizen has to look for extra funds to
provide security for himself. Therefore there is no basis for the comparison as engaging in it

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is tantamount to indulgence in delusion, self deceit and idle talk.
The president in his characteristic haughty mien thought he could bull doze his way as he is
always wont to do to override the citizens wishes and increase the pump price of petroleum
products without consultation just to please his foreign masters. To his utter shock and
disbelief, he found the will of the Nigerian people as solid as the rock of Gibraltar. He had to
climb down in humiliation and penance. The president who got elected by fluke has been
committing one faux pas after another since his inauguration. The majority of Nigerians must
be biting their fingers in utter regret for buying a pig in a poke. The president has been showing
tendency to be bias against a particular section of the country and is fond of making innuendos
against the same people. His actions are un-statesman like as they have ethnic tinge running
like a thread through them.
It must be said here and no any other place that the Nigerian nation has since generals
Murtala and Buhari been suffering from the vacuum of leadership and national ideology. The
ship of state has become rudderless and the citizens are looking like lost sheep, bewildered and
aimless. There must be an honest leadership which is stripped of all rhetoric's and politics to
lead the people to the promised land.

M.A. KURFI CP(RTD)

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 PART FIVE

M.A Kurfi,
Syndicate 1

Research Paper
THE DRUG PROBLEM AND CRIME
Mankind since Adam has been using drugs for various reasons ranging from
medical, religious to social, but recent scientific developments in the field of
pharmacology, have changed the situation in respect of the variety, quantity,
quality, availability and efficacy of drugs. In short, the present day society is drug
oriented. Today there are literally all types of drugs which cover almost all the
spectra of human behaviour. You have drugs to reduce tension, drugs to sleep, drugs
to keep awake, drugs to relieve pain, drugs to obtain pleasure, drugs to control
conception and drugs to tell the truth. The list is endless. This influx of drugs into our
society has made people to become drug dependents who turn these valuable
scientific discoveries into a complex social problem. These are the drug addicts who
take drugs far in excess of the normal medicinal dose in order to produce a desired
effect on their behaviour and actions. They have become not only a source of danger
to themselves but they are a great danger to the society as a whole. The drug problem
is universal and the world at large (from United Nations to individual Countries) has
recognised the existence of this problem and the necessity to do something about it.
Each country has different way of approaching the problem because each country is
dealing with a different society with different set of values and concepts. While
recognition of the existence of the drug problem does not make the task any easier in
combating it certainly a common denominator is provided. So, all countries
employed legal measures. The laws dealing with drugs do differ from country to
country as they are designed to achieve different results depending on the type of the
society concerned and its re-action to the mis-use of drugs, the extent of the
problem and the types of drugs which are commonly misused. Some countries aim at
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eliminating the source of supply or the drug addicts, while others pay more attention
to the main suppliers and the pushers. Controlling the supply and use is another
type of measure taken by some countries. The severity of punishment therefore
depends on the emphasis as to which layer of the drug pyramid causes the biggest
threat in the scene.
2. TYPE OF DRUGS: It is well at this juncture to consider the various types of these
dangerous drugs and their effects on human beings. In any discussion on the subject of
drugs there is always a temptation to try and classify them but no sooner one starts,
one gets stuck as to where and when to draw the line and what would be the guiding
factors to bear in mind in determining the class of a drug; is it the botanical origin, its
chemical compound, its therapeutic importance or its power and extent of use by the
addicts. However it is ideal in this paper to try and present a list of the most
commonly misused drugs.

a) Opium: Is primarily used in the Middle-East-Egypt where it was being

used for medical purposes. It is obtained from the unripe seeds of a poppy
(papaver somni-ferum) which grows in the Middle-East. The crude opium is a
brownish gum-like substance which can be extracted and refined to produce
other stronger drugs. Opium can be eaten or smoked. It gives a feeling of
euphoria and relieved tension or anxiety. It is addictive. The most serious
effects of opium are that addicts totally become pre-occupied with it and lose
interest in sex, work, food and clothes.

b) Morphine: Is the narcotic principle of opium and is a truely addictive drug

which was originally being used in the treatment of dysentery but now being
abused as an addictive drug. It produces tolerance and serious withdrawal
symptoms. It can be recovered from urine or blood up to seven days after
administration. It is ten times stronger than opium.

c) Heroin: This is obtained by modification of morphia. Its actions are very

similar but less liable to produce the unpleasant side effects. It is an addictive

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 drug. It affects the central nervous system causing depression. It is considered
a lethal drug and it reduces the life of the addict.

d) Cocaine: This drug is not an opiate and is obtained from the leaves of the
coca shrub which is grown in South America where the natives used to chew
the leaves in order to enable them work harder and for longer periods. It
produces restlessness, excitement and greater capacity for muscular activity.
It produces rapid psychological dependence of the most extreme kind. It is
not physically addictive so withdrawal presents no danger. It damages the
central nervous system permanently. Cocaine may be sniffed but it is usually
injected. Cocaine taken with Heroin is called in the language of the sub-
culture of the addicts Speed ball.

e) Cannabis: There are more than thirty names of the various products of the
plant cannabis sativa such as Indian Hemp, Hashish, marijuana, Harsh, charas,
charge, Congo Mataby etc. It is grown in Asia, Africa and South America. It has
no medical value now but in the olden days it was used as a pain killer.
Cannabis is smoked in form of cigarettes and it has various but serious effects
on the taker depending on the dose and regularity. Small doses produce
euphoric feeling, stimulated mind and a desire to smile. Slightly stronger
doses give a feeling of oppression and discomfort whereas large doses turn
the addict physically agitated and predisposed to acts of violence. The after
effect is fatigue and stupor followed by a feeling of depression. It can turn the
addict into an insane person.

f) Synthetic Drugs: These are man made drugs which are manufactured in
the form of various shaped tablets and capsules: -

i. Amphetamines: Is available in such preparation as Benzedrine,

Durophet, Dexedrine, Methedrine and Drinamyl. It is used for the
treatment of obesity, alcoholism, narcolepsy, psychiatric and neurotic
disturbances, depression and anxiety states but now it has become a
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 drug of abuse. It has very serious effects on the addict who becomes
talkative, excited and elated. He may become truculent and aggressive.
It can produce hallucinations and delusion of persecution. It can lead to
violence and suicide.

ii. D.M.T (dimethyltryptamine): Is a recent synthetic hallucinogen which is

being used in chemical warfare. There is very little known about it as it
is legally under control.

iii. Pethidrine: A synthetic drug with similar effects to morpia. It is used

in hospitals for medical purposes. It has addictive qualities but because
it does not produce euphoria, the addicts do not like it.

iv. Silocybin and Mescaline: The first one a derivative of Mexicon

mushroom while the second is obtained illicitly as a crystalline powder.
They are both used in ancient religious rites but now they are produced
in powder, capsules or liquid in ampoules. Taken in large quantities,
they produce hallucinations.

v. LSD 25 or LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide, Lysergamide): This is the

most dangerous of all the synthetic drugs. It is extremely powderful 100
times more potent than psilocybin and 7,000 times more than
mescaline. It causes hallucinations intensification and distortion of
sensory nerves. It causes panic impulses towards violence and suicidal
acts. The administration of LSD is called taking a trip. This drug does
not create physical dependence but psychological and tolerance builds
up gradually.

vi. S.T.P: Very little is known about this synthetic drug. It is manufactured
illicitly in the United States. It is said to be more powerful than LSD. Trip
on S.T.P may last up to three or four days. It is a hallucinogen. After a

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 long research into the meaning of S.T.P it is now believed to mean
Serenity, Tranquility and Peace.

g) Barbiturates:This synthetic or group of synthetic drugs derives its name from

St. Babaras day when it was discovered in 1899. It is now produced in various
forms. It is a sedative which depresses the central nervous system. It has
intoxicating effect on the addict whose movements become slow, his speech
is slurred and the mind becomes confused. It produces both physical and
psychological dependence and withdrawal is often followed by convulsions
similar to epileptic fits. Barbiturates in over-dose can be recovered from urine.

3. Causes for Drug Addiction: The causes of drug addiction go hand-in-hand

with the commission of various crimes by the addicts. Drug addiction, the curse of
the century, is an epidemic social disease which is primarily endemic in the cities and
urban areas. It is spreading, like wild fire engulfing all the corners of the world. It is a
very complex phenomenon which has engaged the attention not only of the
authorities and the law enforcement agencies but the medical professions, the
research scientists, the social workers and of course the ordinary man on the street
who is becoming concerned with the alarming rate of the spread of this social
menace. So everybody is asking the pertinent question of what are the causes of
drug addiction. This is a sixty four thousand dollar question. However certain factors
which influence the would be addicts are now known and these can roughly be
divided into three main group i.e, sociological, psychological and pharmacological-
cum-medical.

4. The youth of today who have currently taken over the drug scene in most of
the Western Countries, are in rebellion against the present social system where
everything is made formal and a person does not retain any identity of his own so he
or she adopts an attitude which the sociologists call retreatistic life in which he
opts out of all responsibilities which go with living in a society. Typical examples are
the teenage group in Britain who wear long hair, dress in the Mod fashion either

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beat or gear. In the United States, one sees the Hippies who show their
resentment of the present materially-geared society with all the values it stands for
and try to give themselves a separate and distinctive identity by way of their dress,
taste in music, interest in the occult pattern of drug use, attitudes to conventional
habits and philosophy of life. Both British and American youths are trying to create a
culture of their own in which the main values are physical euphoria, sexual pleasure
and enjoyment all of which are provided by drug addiction. It can be hooking on
cocaine, skin-popping or main lining or may be a trip on LSD. These younger stars do
not want to work because this is in conflict with their philosophy that all human
actions should be spontaneous and not planned in bureaucratic detail.

5. Other social factors to be considered start with the addict who is in most
cases with no-job, no proper place of abode, no regular meals, no money and so he
has to hustle and push in order to live. He is socially as infectious as the rabid
dog. Whenever other innocent yougersters come into contact with him the chances
are that many will become infected by this wretch and in a short time they will be
submerged into the drug sub-culture. Their first experience may be at a party, caf
houses, dances or in clubs where they meet with the junkie. It may be through
sheer curiosity or as a result of feeling depressed and tied that the youngster takes
the pop pills for relief and from there the story starts. Perhaps it may be in an
effort to keep with the Joneses during an all night party. The junkie is there with
his damnable wares of surplus doses obtained from his doctor either by over
prescription or by altering prescription cards. He then pushes part of it to the
beginner and makes some money. He has to do it to survive.

6. Easy and regular communication is an important factor to be reckoned with in

the drug scene. The addict can and in fact does travel from one country to another
blazing the trail with drug addiction infection. This is illustrated by the migration of
many United States and Canadian addicts to Britain where they easily settle and
enjoy under the protective umbrella of the British permissive system of drug control.

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The smugglers on international scale find it easy to shift large amounts of dangerous
drugs like opium and cannabis, from one Country into another. The Police and
Customs officials are in constant battle with these criminals. We often read from the
pages of the newspapers that a big catch has been made by the Customs officials
at the port or the Police on information have carried out a successful raid on some
premises which are being used as dangerous drug den.

7. Last but not the least, is the wretch who peddles dangerous drugs and makes
fortune out of the misfortune of others. The supplier or the peddler is the worst
offender of the lot. This man may not hook at all but his business is to push the
drugs to the addicts who are ready to pay the exorbitant charges.

8. The present attitude of the mass media does not at all help the situation of
drug addiction. The radio, television and the newspapers are only interested in
producing sensationalism which in their damnable expression sells the news. Every
day people are subjected to the monotony of advertisements from the radio, the
television screen and the newspapers. Many an addict are first introduced to their
drugs of addiction by the mass media.

9. Psychological Cause: While there are interacting psychological factors

which influence youngersters to take to drugs, it must be remembered that the most
important factor in this respect is the individual concerned whose psychological
state of mind is crucial. The way he/she reacts to a given situation and the effect of
drug on him or her are equally important. However one of the influencing factors, is
the family back ground. The absence of a stable family may build nervous tension
and emotional atmosphere to which the youngman does not want to belong. It may
be he/she is a product of a broken home or the parents may belong to the lower
stratum of the society in which case he is forced to leave school at an early age in
order to help the family financially. He/she may become unemployed and with no
one to turn to during such difficult period and he finds the world so repressive and

144
competitive which he can not stand up to. He therefore becomes detached from the
rest of the society and turn elsewhere for solace and comforts.

These are easily found in the world of drug addiction. It can happen that
youngerster has been brought up under the strict religious discipline and during the
adolescent age he rejects this rigidness by leaving home to join other youngersters
in drug addiction. Even a house wife with an alcoholic and irresponsible husband can
be driven to drug addiction in order to release tension and feel euphoric. It may be
an effort to get away from the drab and monotony of factory work one takes to
drugs. Tolerance is gradually built by increased dosage forced by dependence and
thereby become an addict.

10. A social back ground with a feeling of inferiority complex in the youngster can
cause drug-addiction in that the youngster makes efforts to correct this
psychological defect by taking drugs in order to obtain a feeling of importance and
superiority. It can be the curious mind of an adolescent which leads the youngster to
have ago at it like the case of Miss Caroline Louise Amery, under-graduate daughter
of Mr. Amery, minister for Housing and Construction. This is a girl no doubt is from a
decent and respectable family but she was taking drugs. She was taken to Court and
was fined 30. The story was published in the Daily Telegraph of Friday 7 th January,
1972.

11. Pharmacological and Medical Causes: Recent scientific developments in the

field of pharmacology have turned the society into a drug-oriented one in which
drugs are literally produced by the millions all over the world. Mankinds behavior is
being controlled to a large extent by drugs. There are many quack drugs
manufactures all over the world. The chemist-shops and drugstores are constantly
being broken into by thieves and addicts who go and sell the loot to innocent
youngsters. The chemists sell drugs to people who have no medical prescription. The
pharmaceutical inspections are not regular and thorough. This allows the chemists
to get away with unlawful dispensing of dangerous drugs. It is an attitude of

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Laissefaire by the dangerous drugs inspectors towards this problem which
complicates it. No proper control of the sales of drugs as the law is not being
enforced.

12. On the medical side, it is the question of over prescription of drugs by the
medical practitioner which creates surplus in the hands of the addict who pushes
this to obtain money. The doctors also prescribe large doses of drugs to patients
whom they do not have any knowledge of their medical history. This is done simply
to satisfy the craving of an addict. There are also occasions when two medical
practitioners are prescribing drugs to one and the same person only may be bearing
different names on the cards. There is no determined effort by the medical
practitioners to withdraw the drug from the addict. The medical practitioners have
taken a very sympathic view of the addicts to the extent that Governments efforts
are being thwarted. The 1965 report of the Inter-departmental committee on drug
addiction concluded thus, From the evidence before us, we have been led to the
conclusion that the major source of supply has been the activity of very few doctors
who have prescribed excessively for addicts.

13. Effect of Drugs: The effects of drug addiction which are many, vary from
one person to another depending on the type of drug one is taking, the extent of the
addiction and the psychological state of mind of each individual. There are cases
where a pre-disposed condition already exist in an addict and the drug acts as a
catalyst only. However the effects are medical and social. The addict becomes sick.
His body weakens and he gradually emerciate. Mentally he becomes depressed,
wild, excited and in-sane with his central nervous system damaged. Socially, he
becomes dirty or wearing weird dress and loses interest in almost all normal social
activities. He does no work or play. He has no interest in food or sex. He becomes
permanently Hooked on his drug and he hustles to exist. Drugs have taken over
as the sole driving force in his life. He becomes a wrack and a wretch and a complete
liability to the society.

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14. His social liability is made worse when he resorts to committing crimes, an act
which is inevitable in such circumstances. An addict has to commit crime in one way
or the other because he has no visible means of earning a living but he has to live
and continue with his hooking skin-popping main-lining or trip taking. He
therefore resorts to stealing, breaking and entering, and even violence. Drug and
crime are twin brothers and therefore inseparable. In any society which is plagued
by drug-addiction, there must be a rise in crime wave. The main supplier has to
smuggle or steal in order to obtain his ware to sell to his customers. The pusher if
an addict, has to obtain surplus drugs by illegal means and push part of them to
others. Drugs like hashish affect either the sexual performance or fantasies of the
addict. Marijuana is said to produce at emotional level, an essentially masturbatory
relationship. An adolescent with anxieties can use transient impotence produced by
amphetamines both to save face or avoid the anxiety he might experience because
of sexual incompetence or interest. A girl who was having main lining admitted
that the feeling she obtained from the injuction is the same as that obtained from
sexual intercourse Heroin and Cocaine are often associated with homosexual
fantasies in both sexes. The ultimate effect of drug is death as life of an addict is
shortened many times or prison on conviction of crime of various types, stealing,
violence, assault and murders.

15. Review of Present System of Control: From the United Nations Organisation
to the individual countries, steps are being taken to deal with the spread of the drug
addiction epidemic. The present system is one of legal control with punitive
measures taken against offenders. While all authorities agreed to employ the legal
weapon, methods of approach as dictated by different objectives, do differ from one
country to another. There are four principle agents in the drug scene vis, the main
supplier, the addicts, the pusher and of course the drugs. Each country in its
approach has placed emphasis on one or two of these actors and as such efforts to
either eliminate them or control them are made. On this side, the authorities have

147
three main agents to employ i.e the Police, the law Courts and the medical
professions.

16. In Nigeria, a special decree was promulgated which imposes a penalty of

10years imprisonment for unlawful possession of Indian hemp. Clearly, the law is
rigid, oppressive and punitive as it does not leave any alternative to the magistrate
and no option for fine to the offender. The law does not make any distinction
between addict, pusher and supplier. In Egypt and Iran the punishment is death
sentence on the supplier while in the United States and Canada, the addict is
regarded by law as a criminal who is constantly being harassed by the Police. He is
virtually driven under-ground and as such resorts to stealing and other crimes in
order to live.

17. The British System is permissive as opposed to oppressive systems mentioned

above and it takes cognizance of the fact that an addict is not a criminal but a
physically and mentally sick person. Since 1920 when the first Dangerous Drugs Act
was passed there have been series of acts which are aimed at the control of the
dangerous drugs as well as to cure the drug addicts. In this paper only recent laws
will be discussed. In 1965, another Dangerous Drugs Act was passed. The provisions
of this act banned the importation of raw drugs like opium. The law also empowered
the Police to enter into any premises and effect a search on reasonable grounds of
suspicion. It requested for the registration with the Home Office, of all addicts who
go for medical treatment. With the increase of the problem, another Dangerous
Drugs Act was passed in 1967 which made it compulsory for medical practitioners to
notify the Home Office any patient considered to be dependent on drugs. It prevents
medical practitioners from prescribing heroin and cocaine. It set up the National
Health Service clinics for the treatment of drug addicts. It imposes a severe fine of
1,000 or ten years imprisonment or both on indictment or a fine of 250 or 12
months imprisonment or both on summary convictions. In 1971 another act was
passed which repealed most of the drug control of previous acts. Its main features

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are that it is more flexible than all previous laws. The 1971-Misuse of Drugs Act set
up an advisory council composed of medical, veterinary, dental, pharmaceutical and
drug manufacturers representatives who will co-ordinate the work of drug addiction
and also to keep the system in view. It has increased the powers of the magistrates
in the award of punishment. It has drawn distinction between the addict in
possession of dangerous drugs, the drug pusher and the main supplier.

18. The Police are to enforce these laws and as such they have wide powers of
arrest. They are empowered to stop any person who on reasonable grounds is
suspected to be in possession of dangerous drugs. They are also empowered to
search under warrant any premises suspected to be used as a hide out for unlawful
dangerous drugs. The Police Drug Squad is specifically charged with the
responsibilities of investigations of drug offences. There are National Health Centres
where addicts can register and receive treatment voluntarily or on court order. The
main objective in setting up these centres is the fact that Britain has recognized drug
addiction as a disease and the addicts are regarded as patients who require medical
treatment. The medical officers are expected to continue prescribing the drugs to
the addict with the hope of weaning him off the drug by gradual withdrawal.

19 Argument in Favour of the Present System: The protagonists of the present

system take the following line of arguments: -

a. By making the addict not a criminal, he is not alienated from the society
and in fact efforts are being made to get him back into the fold.
b. The laws controlling the misuse of drugs are flexible enough to
encourage any determined addict to come off drugs.
c. The laws are constantly being revised in order to reflect the changing
attitude of the society.
d. Medical facilities are available for the treatment of addicts who are not
compelled to do so.

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 e. The flexible system has certainly prevent large scale and organized
smuggling of dangerous drugs into the country because addicts on
registration with medical officers can obtain drugs.
f. It has reduced to a large extent the organized black market although
addicts push part of their prescription to obtain money.
g. The setting up of the Health centres and the advisory council, has
shown that the authorities do not believe that punitive reprimand is
the only way to control drugs.
h. The Police are sufficiently provided with powers to keep the situation
under control arrest, search and conduct factory inspections.
i. The laws enjoin the chemist and the chemical industries to take
adequate security measures to prevent thefts of their drugs.

20. Arguments Against the System: The critics of the system argue that it is a
failure because it has not prevented the emergence of the drug problem for the
following reasons: -

a) It is permissive and ambivalent in that addicts are legally supplied with

drugs and the magistrates are given the option to send addict on
conviction either to prison or to medical centre for compulsory
treatment.
b) Addicts on their own are not compelled to submit to medical
treatment.
c) The doctors have no proper way of finding out from the patient
whether he is a beginner or an addict. He has to take the words of the
patient which affects the doctors judgment in prescription.
d) It is too easy to obtain drugs from the doctors as some of them require
only simple statements from the patients.
e) Most of the doctors who appear to be in medical sympathy with the
addicts, make no positive effort to wean the addicts off the drug and as

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 such treatment does not provide cure as one addict admitted having 22
different treatments but he has not been cured in the real sense of the
word.
f) There are no facilities for after cure rehabilitation which is essential
otherwise there is likelihood of relapse.
g) It is not fool proof and as such junkies can obtain drugs from different
doctors at the same time. One junkie admitted having about 13
different doctors.
h) It attracts drug addicts from other countries into Britain mostly
American and Canadians. Thus increasing the problem.
Other hardliners in addition to the above argument, hold the view that
drug problem has come to stay and therefore no amount of legislation
can eradicate or remove it from our midst. It will be a better approach
therefore if this problem is regarded as social deviancy like
homosexuality.

21. The drug taker should not be subjected to any punitive reprimand. It should
be recognized that an addict is both mentally and physically sick who requires
nothing but medical care and attention. There are a lot of misconception of the drug
problem whose complexities are yet to be studied and understood. It is the opinion
of this school of thought that legal measure can not solve the problem. A person
should be allowed to take personal risks provided it is only himself who is involved.
In other words, people should be allowed without let or hindrance to take drugs and
obtain the pleasure they wanted as long as their desire to obtain pleasure is not in
conflict with the freedom and happiness of other people. The laws should be made
flexible enough to prevent the ill-effects of drug mis-use while the individual is
allowed the fundamental human right and freedom to do with himself what he
chooses. The attitude of the society has to be changed through education, to
recognize the fact that drugs are part and parcel of the 20 th century life. The

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problem therefore is of social nature and has nothing to do with the law courts and
the police.

22. Looking into the Future and Conclusion: We have seen both sides of the
coin and it is only natural for one to draw ones conclusions about the matter. I feel
that the problem of drugs and crime is very serious, complex and overwhelming that
when one is discussing this subject one ought to be dispassionate and free from
emotion. Whatever is said about drugs, the fact is that their problem is here with us
and may remain with us for sometimes perhaps for ever who knows. We also know
the urgly side effects of drug addiction which turn our youngmen and women into
degenerates and criminals. Once these facts are accepted as a basis for our action,
we can then forge a head and make an analytical assessment of the situation. An
objective view is essential to determine the magnitude of this complex
phenomenon. One should avoid at all cost rash decisions, panic measures and
nostrums. So for the immediate, all drug addicts should be compelled to submit to
medical treatment by court order and that addiction, not only possession of
dangerous drugs, should be made an offence against the law in which addiction will
be defined like drunkenness. Legal suppliers of drugs especially the non-addict
should be severely punished. There should be effective control of drug
manufacturing and distribution and all dangerous drugs which are banned by law
must not be produced. Efforts should be made to eliminate all drugs which are
capable of producing dependence and in this respect the authorities seek, through
the World Health Organisation, the co-operation of all countries. Stringent and
water tight measures are called for in order to control supply of drugs from the
source. At present the attitude of the members of the public on drug addiction is
one of hysteria and repulsion. With sound planning we can educate them and
change the attitude of negative consciousness into positive consciousness. Avenues
for immediate, rational and informed public discussions about the problem are
essential and here absolute co-operation of all the mass media is sought.

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23. For the future, efforts must be made to look into the problems deeper beyond
the periphery and in this respect scientific research institutions should be set-up
with a view to providing new data. The members of the Police Drug Squad should
receive adequate training in narcotics and other dangerous drugs.

24. Finally, it should be recognized that human society is a living organism which
changes with the time and as such it is imperative for any legislation to take this
phenomenon into cognizance. All legislations in connection with drugs and drug
addiction should be kept in proper perspective with a view to changing them in
order to meet with the needs of the changing society. They should be amended,
revised, rescinded, abrogated or repealed in accordance with the general re-action
of the society towards a crime or offence. This idea no doubt will help the Police
whose sacred duty it is to enforce the law and bring offenders to justice.

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 BIBILIOGRAPHY

The release report on drug offenders - Caroline Coon &

Rufus Harris

The Drug Scene in Great Britain - Max M. Glatt & David

J. Pittman

Drugs and the Police - T. Jones

The Drug Takers - Jack Young

Paper by Department of Health and Social Security.

New Society 6/1/72

Appraisal of Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Paper by National Council for Civil Liberty

Amphetamines.

M.A. KURFI SUPRINTENDENT OF POLICE

154
 B

THE POLICE GENERALIST VERSUS THE SPECIALIST

A PAPER PRESENTED TO

THE INTERNATIONAL POLICE ACADEMY

WASHINGTON, DC

IN FULFILMENT OF THE THESIS REQUIREMENT FOR ENGLISH GENERAL COURSE NO. 45

BY

SUPT. M. A. KURFI

MARCH, 1974

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 PREFACE

It has been a great pleasure to have this rare opportunity to contribute my humble
quota to this highly controversial subject of Police Generalist Versus the Specialist which is
attractively of great importance to many eminent police scientists who have produced a lot of
literature on it. It is also of critical import to all police planning authorities who I am afraid, do
not pay the attention this subject deserves. Whatever happened, this subject is certainly an
irritating issue with the police generalists who have reasons to believe that the dice is always
being loaded in favour of the specialists who are considered more equal than the generalists.

2. I have based my presentation on my experience in the end with regard to the Nigerian
Police Force but I am not impervious to ideas and experiences from other police systems in the
free world. I have carefully discussed the merits and demerits of both the Police generalist and
the Specialist systems. I have consequently drawn my conclusions and submitted my
recommendations.

3. It must be borne in mind that there is no crystal ball solution to the question of
specialization because tremendous changes are taking place daily in our societies and there is
no doubt that the more advanced a society becomes the more sophisticated are its people. This
phenomenon however, does not mean that the authority can not find a point at which it can
say, Enough and no more, to specialization. In fact the aim of this paper is to examine all the
factors which influence each of the two systems and then determine the extent to which police
organizations should specialize their activities. In this respect, I have endeavoured to be original
but not without calling on O.W. Willson (Police Administration, New York, Mc Graw 1963) and
Allen P. Bristow (Effective Police Man Power Utilization, Charles C. Thomas, Spring Field, Illinois,
1969) whose works on police system are found to be of particular assistance in the treatment
of this subject.

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 SUBJECT: POLICE GENERALIST VERSUS SPECIALIST

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
The subject of Police Generalist Versus the Specialist is controversial and has been
discussed by many police science scholars in differing perspectives. However, the fact remains
that police agencies all over the world are faced to-day with the problem of determining the
need and the extent to which units in their organizations should be specialized. This paper
intends to examine the factors influencing specialization as opposed to generalist system. It will
further make a careful but extensive comparative study of the advantages and disadvantages of
both systems and draw conclusions with recommendations as to how to strike a balance
between them in order to secure maximum efficiency in Police Organisations.

2. it must be pointed out that it is not the intention of this exposition to want to discredit
one system in favour of the other. However, it is certainly within its, scope to examine the two
systems critically and to point out the weaknesses of each.

3. It is ideal at this juncture to define each of the two systems so that one will know
precisely what one is talking about. A police generalist is an officer who is charged with the
responsibility of performing the prime duties of the police, be it patrolling the beat, the arrest
of suspected criminals, attending to public complaints, escorting detainees to court,
participating in quelling civil disturbance. In fact such officer attends to every aspect of the
spectrum of police activities. In short he is the Jack-of-all-police trades. While a police
specialist is an officer who is charged with a specific duty of task for example investigation of
crimes, prevention and detection of subversive activities and internal security.

4. HISTORY OF POLICE SYSTEMS

a) Having defined the two systems, one can now proceed to discuss briefly the history of
each. Since time of recorded history it is well known in any society there had been in existence
some kind of criminal laws and that there were always some kind of agencies to enforce such
laws and to protect life and property. However, organized Police System first came into

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existence in England in 1829 when Sir Robert Peels Parliamentary Act of that year established
the Metropolitan Police Force. Subsequently, two Commissioners of Police were appointed to
organize a Police Force for the London Metropolitan area except the city itself. The force so
organized had a total strength of 3,000 men.

b) In the United States, however, organized police agencies came into existence perhaps
with the Texas Rangers, a force which in many points resembled the old North West Frontier
Militia and Constabulary of British India. Later, including criminal investigations. The State of
Massachusetts followed suit and established the State Constables a force charged with the
responsibility of suppressing vice, drunkness and gambling. In 1905, Pennsylvania State
established its Police Force and in 1917, New York State followed suit. After the Second World
War (1914-1918), the idea spread to other States and the process was speeded up.

c) In Nigeria, Police Force was first established in 1861 when a Consular Guard of 30 men
was formed to keep peace in Lagos area only. In 1863, this unit was re-constituted into the
Hausa Police and in 1879, the Hausa Constabulary for the colony of Lagos was established
with 1,200 men under the direction of an Inspector General. Several other constabularies were
established all over the country until 1930 when they were all merged to form the present
National Police Force with its headquarters in Lagos.

d) These forces were primarily established to carryout the prime functions of the Police of
protecting life and property, detecting crimes and of maintaining law and order. In other words
they were established as generalist organizations.

e) With the increase of population and the demand for more police services, a new system
emerged where a unit or an individual was given a special task. That was the beginning of the
emergence of police specialization. The history of police specialization goes back to 1731 when
the first embryo specialization came into being in the United States when the New York
authority appointed a Public Whipper to take over the function of administering official
punishments on prisoners, from the watchman. Subsequently other forms of specialization
within the police system came into effect. In 1798, some people were employed to take over
the duties of the Lamp Lighter from the watchman. In 1799, the Police Clerk came into
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existence and in 1851, the Boston Police Organisation introduced specialization by assigning
detective work to five policemen. In England, specialization was introduced in the police system
in 1843 when the detective branch was created. In Nigeria, specialization came into being in the
Police Force in 1947 when a department was created specifically to take charge of the
functional responsibility of criminal investigations. Henceforth the department is known as the
Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D) or D Department in the administrative set-up.

Due to the tremendous social, economic and technological changes in both the over-
developed and under-developed societies the type of specialization we have to-day is many
fold different from the simple kind of the days of Sir Robert Peel or the New York Public
Whipper. Specialization is carried too far by many police forces to the extent that its ugly side
effects are threatening the continuance of the patrol system which is the backbone of police
organization.

5. SPECIALISATION IN THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE

Since the establishment of the Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D) many other
specialist units have emerged from the Nigeria Police Force. In fact specialization is in vogue
and as such every newly established unit is a specialist, for example the Signal Branch,
Transport and Workshops, the Marine Corps, Dog Section, Mounted Troops, Works
Department, Pay and Accounts Section, Police College Staff, Police Mobile Force. The crave to
be accorded the title of a Specialist has caused a proliferation of specialist units in the Nigeria
Police Force to-day. The situation is answerable to the hankering, scrambling and clamouring by
the beat constable to get into one of the specialist units where his prospects for progress will
be greatly enhanced. Once in there, the constable will be exempted from all the numerous
other duties performed by the uniformed police. He will not undergo a promotion course like
the generalist who has to undergo promotion courses and pass an examination at every rung of
the service ladder. Also when a specialist gets all the promotions and reaches a bottle-neck in
his specialist branch which is generally a small unit, he reverts to the generalist branch only to
be the boss of his enlistment mates whose prospects for promotion, due to the faulty system,
have not been as bright as those of the specialists. This causes loss of confidence and brutally

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demoralizes the generalists. The situation is worsened when these former specialists proved
not to be good police administrators because they have not been rotated to the various
sections and departments in the organizations to acquire practical experience. As a result of the
incompetence they usually display they are dubbed Carpet-baggers of a type. Certainly such
state of affairs causes frustration, stagnation and general loss of interest to the generalist who
forms the backbone of the police organization and without him the specialist cannot succeed in
his duties. At the backwash of this setting, the specialist has a misconception that he is the
Prima Donna of the organization. The sum total effect is petty squabble and lack of c0-
operation at a great cost of efficiency and smooth running of the organization. The generalists
who are the silent majority will soon start asking for the same advantages and privileges of the
specialists to be extended them. It is quite clear that this unhappy situation can not continue
for too long.

CHAPTER TWO

6. THE CAUSES FOR SPECIALISATION

a) Now let us consider the main factors which influence specialization. It must be
recognized that human society since time has been changing like an organism and the Police
Organisation is part and parcel of it. The trend in modern society to-day is that of specialization
which is accepted as the most important criterion for efficiency. Therefore, these social changes
have direct bearing on specialization in the Police Force because as a society becomes adept,
sophisticated and diversified in its economic pursuits the police organization cannot stand in
isolation but must follow the trend in order to render efficient services to such society. The
world since the days of Sir Robert Peel, has undergone tremendous revolutions in all the
spectrum of human life.

b) SIZE OF POLICE ORGANISATION

The size of the police agency is one of the determining factors for specialization. When
the organization has grown to a complex size with various supporting sections specialization
will be the answer as it is obvious that the beat constable or patrolman will not be able to
perform the innumerable functions some of which essentially require special skills like

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maintaining vehicles, operating the computer, flying the helicopters, designing building
structures, maintenance and repairs of wireless sets and many other specialist services.

c) CRIME INVESTIGATIONS & PROSECUTION

As a society becomes sophisticated so its people including our customers- the criminals
who as we all know to-day are no dupes but among them are well educated, very skilful and
intelligent people. The generalist policeman on beat can not detect crime committed by such
intelligent minds especially organized crimes. Investigation therefore, has become essentially a
full time job and calls for special skills for example finger print, hand writing analysis,
photography and so on. The protracted procedures, the unwieldy processes and the
intermittent adjournments of cases in courts are obviously time consuming to say the least and
require full time men assigned to them.

d) CIVIL DISTURBANCE, SUBVERSION AND LABOUR & STUDENTS UNREST

We are living in a permissive society which has given license to the youth and the
workers to run riots in the cities and urban areas and as such handling these situations calls for
full time police units with the required special training for instance the Police Mobile Force.

e) TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT
There are certain police supporting services which are of highly technical nature and
require different skills to operate the different equipments for such services, for example it will
require two separate skills to operate the wireless set in the operations room and to fly the
helicopter. It is impracticable to train one patrolman to operate the two different equipments.
The specialists who operate such equipments are highly trained and their training is very
expensive and highly professional that they can not be switched over to do beat duty.

f) SOCIETYS AFFLUENCE
In every major city there is a degree of traffic congestion as a result of the influx of many
vehicles both private and commercial on the roads. The control, direction, investigation of
accidents, prevention and detection of vehicle theft are now full time jobs. The beat constable
can not perform these duties in addition to his primary duty of patrolling the beat.

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7. ARGUMENT FOR AND AGAINST BOTH SYSTEMS
a) ADVANTAGES OF SPECIALISATION
In the preceding paragraphs, the causes for specialization have been recapitulated. It is
important now to examine the advantages and disadvantages of both the generalist and the
specialist systems.

i) Perhaps one of the most important advantage of specialization is the fact that while the
specialists deal with all the special tasks the patrolmen are left to concentrate on their
basic duty of crime prevention at beat level.

ii) DIFINITE RESPONSIBILITY TO INDIVIDUAL OR UNIT

Under specialization each individual or unit is given a definite responsibility a specific
duty. This arrangement reduces the chances of mucking up duties or abjuring
responsibilities.

iii) DEVELOPMENT OF SKILL

Repeated performance of a specific task with regularity by individual or unit as a result
of specialization develops skills which when applied constantly increases the efficiency
of the organization.

iv) EASY SUPERVISION

It makes supervision of units of the organization easier as each individual has a specific
duty to perform. The overall boss will address himself to the specialists heads only.

v) FINANCIAL SAVINGS
A saving will be made on the training budget because only the members of the specialist
unit will be trained to acquire a particular skill instead of training all the members of the
organization.

vi) HELPS TO DISCOVER TALENT

Specialization offers greatest opportunity to individual to discover his talent and
aptitude for certain skill.

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vii) JOB SATISFACTION
People obtain more satisfaction when they perform a specific duty rather than being a
member of Jack-of-all-trades group. Job satisfaction develops interest of the
individual. He also has initiative and he develops a competitive mind. Specialization acts
as a morale booster on the individual. It further gives him a stimulus to improve his
knowledge, skill and proficiency in respect of his specialty through pursuit of private
tuition. An individual gains experience quicker.

viii) GOOD PUBLIC RELATION

Specialization can help build a good police image when a unit or an individual carries out
a successful operation which captures the attention of the members of the public like
arresting of a dangerous and notorious criminal whose activities have held the
community in fear.

8. DISADVANTAGES OF THE GENERALIST SYSTEM

Listing down the disadvantages of the generalist system will be a repetitive process
since they are more or less the advantages of the specialist system inverted. It is therefore
considered appropriate to spare the reader of the monotony. However, suffice it to mention in
passing of the following important points:

i) In a big and complex police agency serving a large population especially urban, covering
a large area, the generalist system will result in gross inefficiency and possibly dismal
failure by the police to discharge their duties. While in a Small Police Force in a small
area sparsely populated the generalist system will perhaps prove more efficient.

ii) The service men will be over worked in a generalist system because they will be
performing every aspect of the police duties.

iii) Training for special skill will cost more money since every member of the agency must
be trained in every skill.

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9. DISADVANTAGES OF THE SPECIALIST SYSTEM
i) It limits the experience of the individual as he will not have the opportunity to rotate
between other sections of the agency.

ii) Breeds patrochial outlook and unconcerned attitude towards other police duties, for
example a road traffic specialist will not take action when he sees a crime being
committed as he would say it is the job of the crime detectives.

iii) If carries too far, specialization can result in wastage of man power resources as some
special units or individuals will be under-employed.

iv) It demoralizes and erodes the confidence of the patrolman who sees his status being
reduced to insignificant level and becomes the low man on the totem pole, to quote
Allen P. Bristow. He also sees the specialist as a status symbol with extrinsic privileges.

v) It reduces the importance and psychological effect of the uniform and destroys the
police image as it creates the noxious impression in the minds of the members of the
public that it is only the ne-er-do-well of the police do the patrol duty while the
specialists are looked upon as the cream and the elite of the organization.

vi) It causes schism and unhealthy rivalry for staff, facilities, finance and equipment.

vii) It kills the spirit of esprit de corps and unity of purpose which are sources for
motivation.

viii) It causes operational and administrative difficulties in that during an operation unity of
command will be difficult to achieve as each unit feels that it is separate from the rest.
There is also tendency to disobey orders coming from a superior officer of different unit
even if such officer is the commander of the operation. In this respect specialization acts
as a catalyst to indiscipline.

ix) It hampers the training of officers to become all round leaders who in some future date
will be promoted to take command of the organization.

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x) Differences in pay creates jealousy as specialists receive certain allowances

xi) Police Administrators use the generalist branch as a cesspool for dumping specialists
who for one reason or another have been found to be unsuitable to remain in the
specialist units.

10. ADVANTAGES OF THE GENERALIST SYSTEM

The advantages of the generalist system are conversely the disadvantages of the
specialist system, which have been enumerated on the preceding pages. However, the
following additional points are considered important: -

a) BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MANY SKILLS

A generalist has better opportunity to learn and acquire many skills and wider
experience of the job thus becoming versatile. He can easily be switched to other units without
difficulty or having to train him.

b) PROMOTES SPIRIT OF ESPRIT DE CORPS

It eliminates the possibility of creating bad blood between two different sections as
none of the members will have parochial loyalty to a specialty. His loyalty is first and foremost
to the organization as a whole. This promotes esprit de corps within all ranks and encourages
co-operation and co-ordination.

c) BETTER POLICE ADMINISTRATOR

The generalist who has rotated to all the sections will emerge a good administrator.

CHAPTER THREE

11. THE NEED FOR SPECIALISATION AND THE SOCIETY

The extent to which either the specialist system is to be adopted or the generalist
system is to be retained can not be determined by a precision weapon because the important
factors which influence both systems are complex and vary from one country or community to

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another. For example the population, the size of the area, the topography, the social
development, the economic progress, the political climate and the technological advancement
must be taken into consideration. It is also known that the need for specialization in a
sophisticated society is greater than in a poor and under-developed society or in a small simple
community where people know each other by first names. However, it is of critical import for
any police authority to bear in mind that the establishment of either system in its organization
must be need-oriented. This is the crux of the matter. Specialization in any unit should be
introduced only if there is a real need for it but not just for the desire of either empire building
or for the sake of going with the Joneses. It is important also to strike a balance between the
two systems.

12. RECOMMENDATIONS

It is considered that this exposition will be incomplete without making some

recommendations which may help to solve the problem of either too many specialists or too
many generalists in our Police Forces to-day. The following is the recipe: -

a) There must be a careful, exhaustive and intensive study in order to determine the need
and extent for specialization.

b) The basic policy which governs the application of the two systems should not be
regimented but flexible enough to accommodate the rapid changes of the society. There will
also be no hard and fast rule about the question of the ratio of the specialists to the generalists.

c) Every police officer should be rotated from one section to another in order to acquire
wider horizon, knowledge and experience of the whole organization so as to be well grounded
to become an all-round officer who will not be found wanting in his administrative duties.

d) It is not recommended to employ civilians to man the specialist units because such
policy has an ambivalent effect on the police organization. First, in order to attract these highly
qualified specialists into the police organization, they must be offered salaries much higher
than those paid to the serving members of the force. Secondly, they will not be subjected to the
rigid discipline of the Police Force. Thirdly, at some future date when they reach the top rung of

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the ladder in their cadre, which is usually short, they will like to switch to the police cadre at the
most advantageous point of entry. Such a request will throw the police authority into a
quandary. Granting it will cause demoralization within the serving policemen while refusing it
will frustrate the civilian employees because they know that the future does not hold good for
them as there will be no more opening for promotion.

13. CONCLUSION

In conclusion therefore, two important guiding principles should be taken into

consideration. The Police Department can adopt a mixed system properly tailored to suit the
need of the organization. In this regard both the specialists and the generalists will work hand-
in-hand under the same conditions of service and with equal opportunity for training and
progress. Alternatively, the generalist division can be developed into a specialty under a new
title with clearly defined functional responsibilities.

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APPENDIX A

NO.1

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