…AS AIG ARI SAYS LAND GRABBING IS BECOMING A SECURITY THREAT
By Okosun Dennis
Nigeria Police Force is to undergo a sweeping reform with a view to making it more adaptable, functional and have the necessary tools and manpower needs to effectively and efficiently police the country.
Speaking at the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Conference Hall on Tuesday night during her maiden visit to the Lagos Police Command, the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set up a committee to carry out a comprehensive reform of the Nigeria Police Force.
According her, about 18 targets have been outlined to strengthen police force for Nigeria. “It is our responsibility to give everybody confidence and I would push ahead for the betterment of the police agenda in Nigeria.”
However, she decried that since 1999, there have been eight reform papers but none has been implemented satisfactorily, adding that with the present administration’s commitment to galvanizing a new frontier for the police, there will be a new horizon.
Hajiya Suleiman-Ibrahim noted that, “we have not had reforms because it will cost a lot to reform the police but under President Tinubu, a reform will start.
“We don’t even have one of the biggest police in Africa, but we are the best. You have showed commitment and dedication to duty. You have consistently continued to hold the country together and doing so much with very little.
“There are policy and infrastructural gaps. We have to work on retirement of our men and women to enable them retire to a better life.”
Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim after taking the salute and the Quarter guard ceremonies, she had a guard tour of the MOPOL 20 barracks behind the Headquarters, Lagos State Police Command where she interacted with some police family members and had pictures with barracks children.
The disheveled barracks, lacking renovations for years with its dilapidated structures unsafe for human habitation not to talk of officers and men providing vital security for the country and fighting crimes, the Minister visibly expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the barracks.
One of the women, Mrs. Rose Daniel appealed to the Minister to look into the terrible state of the barracks with a view to renovating it.
Briefing the Minister that the Lagos Police Command is in dare need of infrastructures as there are challenges of barracks accommodation, renovation of existing ones, welfare and logistics demands, the Commander, Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, AIG Mohammed Ali Ari called on the Minister to have a deeper introspection at their demands with a view to bringing succour.
He explained that there is no geo-political zone that have no security challenges with one form of crime or the other ranging from kidnaping, cultism and land grabbing which is becoming a major security threat.
“Despite the crowded nature of Lagos State, it is calm because our men are working. We need your assistance to revamp the system.”
Earlier, the Acting Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, DCP Waheed Ayilara commended the Minister of State for Police Affairs for the visit and taking her time to have a guarded tour of facilities and barracks in Lagos.
DCP Ayilara called on Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim not to “forget the command in her kingdom” but to remember that the Lagos Police Command needs barracks accommodation, vehicles and other logistical needs.
In his words of admonition, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, member, Board of Trustees, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), applauded the minister for bringing into existence a crusade of planning to tackle the problems of insecurity through grassroot policing.
“With what you have seen in the last two days, I guess you are pregnant with a lot of things and challenges on ground that needs innovative changes. Help the Nigeria Police and change the face of the police,” he reiterated in his remarks.
The Minister later had interactions with some widows of deceased police officers who lost their lives in the course of duty as well as some Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) that were present.
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