USR PUBLISHER

The intersection of nutritional wellness, occupational health, and social protection represents a vital yet underexplored area in public health nutrition, particularly in high-stress professions within resource-limited settings. In Nigeria, police officers and the public are shaped by socio-economic factors, cultural norms, and institutional structures that influence perceptions of security, dietary well-being, and social equity. This study explores the interplay between police-public relations, officers' nutritional status and wellness, and societal trust in Nigeria's law enforcement, advocating for a sustainable development framework that incorporates nutrition, economic stability, and cultural sensitivity. Police officers in Zaria metropolis encounter substantial occupational hazards, such as psychological stress, physical injuries, irregular eating patterns due to shift work, and limited access to nutritious foods, contributing to malnutrition, reduced efficiency, and diminished public trust. Simultaneously, citizens perceive the police as both protectors and oppressors due to systemic corruption, brutality, and socio-economic disparities. A total of 100 questionnaires were distributed, 98 were retrieved but only 95 were correctly filled and were analyzed quantitatively. Using a qualitative method approach and policy analysis this research investigates i) occupational wellness of Police Officers, Mental health challenges, workplace hazards, and access to medical care. ii) public perceptions of Policing trust levels, experiences of police brutality, and expectations of social protection. iii) socio-economic and cultural Barriers how poverty, ethnic bias, and institutional neglect affect police-community relations. The findings highlight the need for integrated health and social protection policies that address structural determinants of illness while fostering resilience in vulnerable populations. Public distrust remains pervasive, citizens avoiding police contact due to fear of extortion or violence. Cultural factors, such as ethnic favoritism and religious bias, further complicate policing effectiveness. By addressing nutritional wellness, illness and policing, prioritizing nutritional wellness, addressing occupational-induced nutritional challenges and enhancing social protection in policing, Nigeria can foster a more equitable, effective, and health-promoting security framework that supports public health nutrition goals.