The #EndSARS protests of October 2020 shook Nigeria to its core and echoed across the world, laying bare the deep wounds of distrust between the police, the public, and other stakeholders. In the years since, that distrust has festered, costing lives, destroying property, and sowing seeds of hate, suspicion, and division that continue to weaken the fabric of the Nigerian society.

The Trustbuilding Program Nigeria – Police I Care was born out of a deep conviction that these wounds can be healed. We believe that trust is not simply built, it is nurtured, one conversation, one act of service, and one changed heart at a time. Through open dialogue sessions, heartfelt outreach, and visible acts of integrity, the program increases mutual respect between the Nigeria Police Force and the communities it serves. 

Our approach combines dialogue, outreach, and grassroots-led engagement across Nigeria:

• Dialogue sessions between officers and citizens – creating safe spaces where both sides can speak openly, listen deeply, and begin to bridge entrenched divides.
• Police station outreach – we visit stations one after another, building safe, honest circles among officers to reflect on their roles and nurture reform-minded approaches. In the first six months of 2025 alone, 4 police station outreaches reached over 150 officers across two Nigerian states.
• Volunteer-powered service projects – with more than 300 essential items donated and over 160 volunteer hours dedicated in early 2025, we demonstrate practical care to officers and citizens alike, modeling a culture of trust-in-action.
• Community dialogue and training – steadily shaping mindsets for empathy, compassion, and shared responsibility for safer neighborhoods.

These activities have already shifted perceptions: officers adopting more compassionate methods, and community members pledging respectful engagement with law enforcement. 

“At first, I thought these kinds of dialogues were unnecessary. But sitting face-to-face with civilians changed something in me. I saw their pain, and they saw my struggle as a police officer. Now, I see my role not just as enforcing order, but building peace.” 
— Participating Officer, Lagos Outreach

“This initiative gave me the courage to speak up respectfully and see the police as partners, not just enforcers. That’s a big change for me and my community.” 
— Youth Participant, Oyo State

“In all my 22 years in service, no civilian has ever walked into my station just to say, ‘I care.’ You people didn’t come here to report a case or ask for help. You just came to care. I won’t forget this day.”   
— a senior officer at Ogombo.   

These stories show that true transformation is possible, one officer, one citizen, one community at a time. 

Nigeria stands at a critical juncture, with rising insecurity, distrust in democratic institutions, and a generation of youth demanding justice and respect.  

The wounds of distrust between police and civil society will not heal on their own and no other NGOs in the country are directly building trust between police and civil society – our team works in a unique space.  

The Police I Care program has already shown it can restore trust, change attitudes, and lay foundations for genuine reform. With additional support, we aim to:

• Expand police station outreach to more Nigerian states.
• Scale up community trustbuilding dialogues in high-tension areas.
• Provide ongoing training and mentorship for police officers and community leaders.
• Strengthen our monitoring and evaluation systems to track lasting impact and support advocacy for systemic change.