Nigeria Police Medical Services since 1975

Scholars have analysed various aspects of the history of the Nigeria Police Force. Yet, the health aspect has remained under-researched in the mainstream literature on policing in Nigeria. The article represents a departure from existing traditions and forms the first attempt to analyse the nature and patterns of the Nigeria Police Medical Services (NPMS) from a historical perspective. The study has utilised oral testimonies, archival documents and extant literature to analyse the impact of the Nigeria Police Medical Services on the health status of officers. It found that before the establishment of the NPMS in 1975, government-funded general hospitals and army hospitals provided medical care for officers. However, the institutionalisation of medical care by the Nigeria Police through the establishment of NPMS opened a new vista for improved health of police personnel and their dependents. The article concludes that the NPMS, through its activities, have contributed to the good health of the officers. However, the benefits from its establishment have not been fully maximised due to a lack of health manpower, inadequate infrastructure and equipment and insufficient funding, among others.