President

THE NIGERIAN STATE

As a nation, Nigeria is sorely at a cross-road, a points in which security challenges manifest in several dimensions and people have always been disturbed by a series of crimes that they are not familiar with, springing up daily in the country.

Security lapses and challenges manifest on a daily basis informs of youth restiveness, terrorism, and insurgent attacks, ransoms, political assassination, arson, murder, cult-related activities, banditry, and so forth.

I am inclined, like many other security analysts, to believe that the situation is even worse, considering the high rate of crime and criminality all over the country because the unpleasant insecurity challenges have worsened tensions in the polity generating fear, panic and anxiety, therefore questioning the capability of government security agencies to effectively tackle existing and emerging threats. No one is safe anymore.

Infact, to underscore the severity of the situation, some communities and individuals are now painfully negotiating with, and paying monetary compensation to bandits, in an effort to stem the flourishing enterprise of kidnapping, rape and murders.

As professionals skilled in the administration of criminal justice and criminology, we must aggressively confront these inexplicable, inexcusable and unacceptable gloom indices accentuated by high rates of insecurity. For too long, Nigeria has placed the cart before the horse in its developmental strides. We therefore must complement and collectively rise to right the wrongs.

Accordingly, as a professional body, we will partner with the criminal justice system, the Nigerian government, NGO’s and their relevant stake-holders to redefine approaches of the criminal justice system and criminology administration to support and consolidate the sector.

The future view of every organization is in its ability to project its VIPER to the society:

V       –        Vision of the President/Chairman
I        –        Innovative activities of the organization
P       –        Passion of the leaders of the organization
E       –        Excellence in everything we do !
R       –        resolve/restore informing solutions

Your Excellency, Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, the political and socio-economic environment of Nigeria are changing fast. Today’s Criminal Justice System is faced with new challenges as it continually try to position itself for the future and uncertainty. Citizens are waking up daily to daunting unexpected challenges that seem to be weighing them down.

One major challenge facing our leaders today is not that of effectively managing the systems alone but the challenge of effective engagement of Nigerians for maximum innovation through the application of sound principles of the Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Let me therefore intimate you to note that, one cardinal objective of this Council, will be our commitment to strategically leverage professional expertise that will serve as a catalyst of change towards strategic evolution of the institute and respond to the need of competent, well trained and knowledgeable practitioners to drive components of the criminal justice and criminology system to effectively confront existing and emerging challenges.

 

SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF CRIME

There is a dearth of research on crime in Nigeria, which is particularly problematic in this country given the extraordinary high crime rates reported here. Common correlates of crime, such as unemployment, poverty, and inequality, are also at extreme levels in Nigeria – making the investigation of the determinants of crime even more pertinent in this context.

Economically and socially deprived economies where levels of poverty, unemployment and underemployment are very high are bound to affect economic activities in such economy. When people are not fully employed, they are bound to engage in different types of crimes as a survival strategy.

It is a common knowledge among scholars that crime generally reduces safety, disrupts social order, creates chaos and confusion, hinders community collaboration and trust and creates serious economic cost to both the people and the nation at large development.

Increased crime rate has adverse effects on sustainable economic growth in Nigeria by driving away both foreign and domestic investors; low investment eventually increases unemployment and poverty.

 

INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO CHALLENGES FACING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CRIMINOLOGY SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

Criminal justice and criminology systems around the world face many challenges. Integrated and coordinated approaches are essential to address them effectively:

Challenges include persistently high levels of crime and violence, the need to respond to new forms of criminality as well as enhancing responses to criminal behaviours that have long pervaded societies including corruption and violence against women and children.

In Nigeria, criminal justice and criminology systems are overburdened with heavy caseloads and suffer from insufficient financial and human resources. This leads to various malfunctions of the justice system, including high levels of impunity, delays in the administration of justice, overuse of pre-trial detention often for lengthy periods, insufficient use of alternative sentencing options, a poorly trained and under paid police force, overcrowded prisons that cannot fulfill their rehabilitative function and high rates of recidivism.

Criminal justice and criminology systems often suffer from a compartmentalization and lack of integration of the different components of the criminal justice chain, as well as a lack of coordination and collaboration with other sectors essential to ensuring integration responses to crime and violence such as the health, education and social welfare sectors.

The institute will collaborate with relevant institutions to strategically mitigate and de-radicalize impediments affecting the Criminal Justice System in Nigeria.

 

ON THE PROFESSION

There is no doubt that, today, more than ever before, the criminal justice and criminology Profession, as a body of gatekeepers, needs men and women of courage, goodwill and proven integrity, to drive the renaissance of our value system and counter society’s scathing criticisms of criminal justice and criminology.

We must take on the gauntlet to redefine our values and defend the system to be proactive. This is the surest way to redeem the profession’s credibility, rebuild its image and chart a new course that will guarantee the prosperity of the Nigerian nation and indeed, the human race through;

1. Inexhaustible mental prowess and professional manpower to promote good governance, development and strategies for a moral system.
2. To harness adequate intelligence on National security issues to curb all manner of insecurity in Nigeria.
3. Educate, advocate, sensitize and professionalize stakeholders of the components of Criminal Justice and criminology.
4. To formulate and promote the scientific techniques of criminology.

 

5 – POINT AGENDA OF THE COUNCIL

Since terrorism and insecurity are retarding economic and business advancement of the nation, our commitment as a Council, will initiate strategic approaches in-line with the institute’s objectives to;

• Respond to the need of competent, well trained and knowledgeable practitioners, and ensure that operational components are strategic to effectively confront existing and emerging challenges of the criminal justice system.
• Promote and develop strategic practice for components of the Criminal Justice and Criminology Administration as a profession.
• Collaborate with other institutions to mitigate threats, violence and promote conflict resolution, peace-building, crime prevention, control,
• Provide a podium to consolidate and compliment government efforts in the Administration of Criminal Justice and Criminology.
• Strive to ensure that stake-holders tasked with Administration of Criminal Justice and Criminology are registered members of the institute (capacity-building) to effectively and efficiently tackle challenges confronting the system.

At this crucial point in time, be rest assured of our commitment and dedication to establish conditions that would guarantee social justice, economic and political freedom in our strive to reposition the institute and consolidate government efforts in the Administration of Criminal Justice and Criminology.

 

APPRECIATION

Let me end this inaugural address by admitting with all sense of modesty that the success story we are celebrating today was neither achieved on a platter of gold nor by my own efforts alone. I therefore wish to profoundly express my deepest appreciation to everyone for this great honour and show of confidence in my ability to lead this great Institute from the front. You have individually and collectively inspired, encouraged and spurred me on so much.

From the depth of my heart, I say to you, this is our collective success, moment of glory and our chance to make history. You have all been wonderful. Thank you most sincerely.

To my esteemed colleagues on the Governing Council, as we prepare for the arduous task ahead, it is quite challenging, but with your cooperation, invaluable support and unwavering commitment, I dare say, together, we will take the Criminal Justice and Criminology Profession to the next level.

I trust that as we collectively resolve today to drive the change we desire, in months ahead, you all will stand by me as we evolve a befitting future for our profession and institute.

To all my well-wishers too numerous to mention, I sincerely appreciate your individual and collective support that made this day a reality. May God crown your activities with resounding success.

 

CONCLUSION

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen let me conclude by reiterating the challenge you have thrust on me, by this historic investiture. I will neither fail nor falter. I will uphold and defend the integrity and honour of the Criminal Justice and Criminology Profession and use this office to advance the cause of the Institute and humanity at large.

As an institute, we would stand up and be counted in the battle for the renaissance of the nation’s criminal justice and criminology administration system to promote social values. In words and actions, integrity and the common good will be our watch words. We will continually have our eyes on the ball and think of the big picture. Hopefully, at the end of my tenure, I will pass on to my successor, a banner without stain.

As I look forward working with this great team, I sincerely thank you once again for the confidence reposed in me.

I thank you all for listening, stay safe and God bless you all.

Long live the Institute of Criminal Justice & Criminology Administration.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Dr. Lionel Vonfrederick Rawlins,