The Difference is Clear: Nigerian Police Barracks Versus Military/Naval/Air Force Barracks


It is not only of 7Up’s taste that we can say ‘the difference is clear’, we can also say same of the Nigerian police barracks in contrast with military/naval/air force (MNA) barracks. 

Sometimes, irrespective of their location, the physical state of police residential buildings and adjoining environment is deplorable, with pockets of disorganized vendors and poor waste management systems. 

On the better hand, MNA residential areas have relatively cleaner environments, better maintained buildings and organized trading areas. As a development economist, I am bothered that this ‘physical’ differential may be a signal to more serious social welfare issues.


Having keenly observed this disturbing real world phenomenon over a few years, there are some intriguing questions which I hope research and policy can address in the days to come: What is the extent of income and welfare differentials among different categories of the Nigerian armed forces? What accounts for the differentials in income amongst Nigeria’s armed forces? What factors account for the disparity in comportment amongst different categories of the Nigerian armed forces? 

What effect does the training curriculum play in the comportment of different categories of the Nigerian armed forces? What impact does entry requirements play in the attitude and comportment of different categories of the Nigerian armed forces? What role does respectability play in the attitude and comportment of different categories of the Nigerian armed forces? What role does public perception play in the structure, conduct and performance of different categories of the Nigerian armed forces?

Going forward, the result of an inquiry can be beneficial for social welfare, business and posterity (sustainable development). Other questions needing answers include: What factors account for the differences in living standards amongst categories of armed forces in Nigeria? What are the psychosocial determinants of littering behaviour among different categories of the Nigerian armed forces? 

What role does the brief (managing civil affairs Vs defending territorial integrity) of different categories of the Nigerian armed forces have on their structure, conduct and performance? What role can estate managers/private sector play in the management of the Nigerian armed forces residential quarters? How can the Nigerian police force be made a prestigious vocation of interest to the younger generation? What are the frameworks for knowledge sharing between members of different categories of the Nigerian armed forces?

In sum, the emergent research policy will have implications for raising a new generation of members for the Nigerian armed forces, public-private partnership in the management of residential estates of the Nigerian armed forces as well as harmonisation of training curriculum and institutional frameworks governing the structure-conduct-performance of the Nigerian armed forces.


The discussion continues…

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