on bribes and charity"and "No computers, no uniforms: Sorry state of
Nigeria Police,"Temitayo Famutimicaptures the state of police barracks
in Lagos
I t was on a sunny Friday afternoon. Inspector Joy (not real name)
stopped by at the stall of a pepper seller on the premises of the
Obalende Police Barracks, Lagos. After buying some spices she dashed
into a beer parlour adjacent the pepper sellers' spot.
"I really need to step down. It's been a long and tiring day. You can
join me if you wish," she advises this correspondent who had
requested to have an audience with her as she walked into the beer
parlour.
The traffic policewoman who later requested a bottle of stout resides
in the Women Police Barracks, situated behind the Obalende Barracks.
In a chat with this correspondent in the drinks joint, she laments
that her experience over the years in service has made her desist from
raising her hopes too high over improvement in welfare of policemen
and women.
"Do I need to explain how I feel about the state of the barracks where
we (policemen and women) live in? You have seen it all yourself here.
It is the same situation in many places. Please, let's talk about
other things because it appears that we have long been forgotten," she
laments as she sips a glass of beer.
After finishing the bottle of beer, Inspector Joy, who notes that she
is delighted to make the acquaintance of this correspondent, asks him
to join her as she heads for home.
On getting to her room-and-parlour apartment in the Police Women's
Barracks meant for spinsters, the first item which strikes the
attention of the journalist is a photo frame hung on the wall of the
sitting room showing Joy and a well-built man.
Asked if she is married, Inspector Joy explains that she is "somehow
married", adding that she cohabits with her man who also happens to
be a policeman.
"Don't mind the inscription you see at the entrance of this barracks
as it does not apply here. In this barracks, everyone is for himself
or herself. My man stays here with me and goes to work from here just
as it is the practice among other couples irrespective of if they are
married or not.
"Nobody conducts checks on how we are faring and that also explains
why the barracks is not being maintained and has become a total
eyesore," she explains.
No rehabilitation
The policewoman who occupies an apartment on one of the two-storey
buildings in the barracks laments that since she moved in, no
rehabilitation works have ever been undertaken in the barracks. But
she said in the course of this year, she has, through the resident
association, paid for sundry petty rehabilitation.
"The soak away recently got filled up and we had to contribute N4,000
each to get it fixed. Even the toilet we are talking about, there is
nothing to write home about it. About 10 of us from three apartments
make use of that dilapidated toilet and only one bathroom is usable on
this floor and tens of people make use of it.
"This barracks can at best be described as a refugee camp as it is
simply an eyesore and yet rent is being deducted in my salaries
monthly."
From meagre allocations that put police stations across the country at
the mercy of charity from communities and criminals, the appalling
dwelling places of policemen adds up to the several factors which make
the Nigeria Police Force one of the most uninspiring institutions to
work for many people.
From Obalende, Surulere, Iponri, Bar Beach to Women's Police barracks,
all in Lagos the story is that of a sad tale of utter neglect. But the
picture is similar in other states of the federation. While the sewage
pipes in many of the barracks visited are damaged, their rooftops
bristling with satellite dishes were adorned with largely broken,
sagging roofing sheets – many of which have indeed fallen off.
At the Obalende Barracks, many wives of policemen have simply turned
their respective kitchenettes into shops of some sorts where they sell
their wares. At some other sections of the barracks, wives of
policemen have resorted to cooking in the open due to the dilapidated
conditions of their kitchens.
A visitor to the Surulere Police Barracks could think that it has
been turned into a motor park as seven commuter buses were parked on
the premises during this correspondent's visit. Besides, two drinking
joints sited on the premises of the barracks have also eaten up
available breeding space, thus confirming the lack of close monitoring
from the authorities.
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