INTRODUCTION
The Nigerian Police Force, constitutionally mandated to protect lives and property under Section 4 of the Police Act, 2020, and to ensure internal security pursuant to Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), has unfortunately descended into a troubling practice: the commercialisation of law enforcement. What ought to be a noble service of safeguarding the people has, in many quarters, been converted into a market where protection, justice, and even access to the police are bought and sold.
This commercialisation, far from being incidental, has become the disturbing new normal, rooted in the poor welfare and neglect of serving officers. Yet, the Constitution and our extant laws do not excuse misconduct or extortion in the name of survival. The consequence is a double injury: officers are dehumanised by neglect, and citizens are brutalised by the monetisation of their rights.
FORMS OF COMMERCIALISATION IN NIGERIA’S LAW ENFORCEMENT
1. Charges for Submitting Petitions
It is now common knowledge that citizens are asked to pay between ₦20,000 and ₦200,000 before their petitions are even received or assigned for investigation at Police Headquarters or State Commands. This practice has no legal basis whatsoever. In fact, Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees fair hearing and access to justice without financial hindrance, while Section 83 of the Police Act obligates officers to receive complaints from citizens without demanding payment.
2. Fees for Reporting Cases at Police Stations
At divisional police stations, the simple act of reporting a crime is met with unlawful “station charges.” From theft to assault, complainants are told to “open a case file” with ₦2,000–₦5,000. This extortionist culture is a gross abuse of Section 34(1)(a) of the Constitution, which protects the dignity of the human person, and violates the Anti-Corruption and Transparency mandates binding on public officers under the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
3. The Infamous ‘Bail Is Free’ Contradiction
Though the police constantly parade the slogan “Bail is Free,” in practice, suspects and their families know better. Bail often comes at a steep price, sometimes ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦500,000 depending on the allegation. This offends Section 35(4) of the Constitution, which requires release of suspects within reasonable time or upon bail, and is in clear violation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, Section 30, which prohibits demanding money for bail.
4. Checkpoints and Roadblocks as Tolls
Despite repeated directives banning roadblocks, officers across Nigeria operate checkpoints that have become extortion points. Motorists are compelled to “settle” or risk prolonged harassment. This practice undermines Section 41 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement, and reduces law enforcement to a revenue-collection enterprise.
5. Police for Hire by Private Interests
Perhaps most disturbing is the routine deployment of armed police units for private business protection, land disputes, or debt recovery, often in exchange for hefty payments. This converts the Police from an impartial law enforcement body into the private militia of the highest bidder, in violation of Section 46 of the Police Act, which forbids police officers from engaging in activities outside lawful duties.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONSEQUENCES
Commercialisation of law enforcement is not a victimless practice. It:
✓ Erodes public trust, making citizens view the police not as protectors but as predators.
✓ Entrenches inequality, where justice is accessible only to those who can pay.
✓ Encourages human rights violations, as officers resort to intimidation, torture, and unlawful detention to extract payments. This offends Section 34 of the Constitution and the Anti-Torture Act, 2017.
WELFARE AS THE ROOT CAUSE, BUT NOT AN EXCUSE
It must be admitted that Nigerian police officers endure deplorable conditions: meagre salaries, poor housing, inadequate insurance, lack of equipment, and delayed pensions. These conditions have undoubtedly driven many to see extortion as a survival strategy.
However, poor welfare cannot legalise corruption. Just as a hungry judge cannot sell justice, a poorly paid officer cannot commercialise protection. The duty of the State under Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution is clear: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” This extends to both the citizens and the officers who serve.
THE WAY FORWARD
1. Immediate Welfare Reform: Salaries, insurance, housing, and pensions of officers must be reviewed upward to reflect modern realities.
2. Strict Enforcement of Accountability Mechanisms: The Police Service Commission (PSC), the Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU), and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) must act decisively against erring officers.
3. Abolition of Illegal Levies: Petition and station charges must be criminalised with clear penalties under the Police Act and ACJA.
4. Independent Oversight: A civilian-led independent police complaints body, as practiced in other democracies, is long overdue.
5. Human Rights Education: Officers must be trained continuously on the constitutional limits of their powers and the rights of citizens.
CONCLUSION
The commercialisation of law enforcement in Nigeria is a cancer on both the police institution and our fragile democracy. It is a dangerous “new normal” that reduces the citizen’s right to security into a commodity purchasable only by the privileged.
As citizens, we must reject this monetisation of justice. As government, urgent reforms in welfare and accountability are non-negotiable. And as officers, fidelity to the Constitution and the Police Oath must outweigh the lure of illicit survival strategies.
The Nigerian people deserve a Police Force that serves the law, not one that sells it.
Okoye, Chuka Peter is a Civil Rights Actor and the Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS)
cehraws@gmail.com | +234(0)803-552-9865
