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A political advocacy group, The Renewal Group (TRG), has urged President Bola Tinubu to establish an investigative committee to examine the actions of Lagos State’s Police Commissioner, CP Moshood Jimoh, referencing what it claims is a drop in law enforcement quality within the state.

The call was initiated by the group’s Convener, Lai Omotola, during the organization’s first press conference conducted in Maryland, Lagos on Thursday.

Addressing journalists, Omotola referred to TRG as “a non-aligned political pressure group that employs both politics and politicians as effective instruments for transformative development,” noting that the group’s current emphasis was on law enforcement in Lagos State.

He examined the development of law enforcement in Nigeria, contending that the system had become undermined over the years because of political and organizational influences.

“The British provided us with a robust police force based on the British police system. Soon after our independence, coup plotters realized that the police could not withstand a coup, so the military started to weaken the Nigerian Police,” he said.

He claimed that all subsequent governments did not sufficiently enhance the police force, pointing out that even democratic regimes faced challenges in implementing reforms.

Omotola emphasized the importance of policing in national growth, saying, “The primary duty of a Police officer is to act as a peacekeeper and upholder of the law. There is no developed country with an underdeveloped police force, and no underdeveloped country with a well-established police system.”

He stated: “The progress of any country is directly dependent on the Police since no nation can advance without law and order. Therefore, the vital role of the Police. Law enforcement is a honorable career and should continue to be one, given the numerous reasons supporting this view.”

The chairperson of the TRG, nevertheless, attributed the situation of the police, as he referred to it, to both political figures and internal issues.

“Nevertheless, the decline of the Nigerian Police has been both self-inflicted and political. Most politicians in Nigeria are not well-liked by the populace, so the police play a crucial role during and after elections. Therefore, it is in the interest of these unpopularity politicians to keep the Nigerian Police in a state of decline,” he stated.

Focusing on Lagos, Omotola highlighted the state’s crucial role for Nigeria and Africa, emphasizing that its law enforcement standards should match its significance.

“Lagos serves as the commercial hub of Africa… It should be a city characterized by law and order, accompanied by sanity and grandeur. With a population of approximately 22 million, it deserves to be referred to as a Nation,” he said.

He voiced worry about what he referred to as an deteriorating security and law enforcement environment in the state.

“Policing in Lagos is increasingly becoming a source of shame and a nightmare under the leadership of CP Moshood Jimoh, which is why we wrote to the President to form an inquiry panel. This is not the time for media criticism; it’s time to uncover the truth and gather data,” Omotola stated.

In response to critics of the group’s stance, he stated: “Since our letter to the President, some people have read our letter with disbelief and others claim they are false. We are here to present just one piece of evidence among several.”

He mentioned worries about the activities of the Lagos State Taskforce, especially regarding enforcement actions.

“Firstly, regarding the recent viral video involving the Lagos TASKFORCE. We believe we don’t require the type of enforcement the chairman is suggesting since in Lagos, we already have cameras on the roads, which are federal roads, and road safety will handle it more effectively. Additionally, LASTMA will also manage the situation,” he said.

Omotola also expressed disapproval of the agency’s efforts in environmental enforcement, saying: “The main responsibility of TASKFORCE concerning the environment has not been fulfilled, as shown by the recurrence of monthly sanitation issues and the governor’s neglect of environmental matters, which should not be the case.”

He argued that the demand for a presidential committee was essential to uncover the truth and rebuild trust in law enforcement within Lagos State.