I WILL INVEST HUGELY IN ARMS & YOUR WELFARE— PRESIDENT TINUBU ASSURES POLICE

REPORTER: UGONNA AGU

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to invest in resources that will improve the quality of the country’s police force.

This, he plans to do, by acquiring security assets to make the job of policing easier across the length and breadth of the nation.

President Tinubu stated this in a message to the opening of the 4th edition of the Conference and retreat for senior Police officers held in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

He said that neither prosperity nor justice could prevail amidst an insecure environment.

President Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, in his address at the three day retreat, also promised to review the allowances and working conditions of the police officers and men.

President Tinubu enjoyed them to confront security issues to move the nation forward and make it more conducive for economic prosperity and national development.

“I have given approval for local and overseas training of officers to better equip and enable them to enhance their operational capacity, to secure the nation and constantly make Nigeria safe,” he said.

The President of Interpol, Mr. Ahmed Naser Al Raisi, in his keynote address, commended the Nigerian Police Force for its efforts in ensuring the safety and security of the local population, while working alongside police forces from neighboring
countries to fight against organized crime in West Africa, since joining Interpol in 1960.

“Nigeria’s Police Force has continued to action its vision of making Nigeria safer and more secure for everyone living here.

“Nigeria has also played a Key role in tackling regional and international crime,” the Interpol boss said.

Mr. Al Raisi listed some of the vital roles the Nigerian Police Force has played in several Interpol operations.

They included demonstrating its commitment to tackling transnational crime.

“This year alone, the joint INTERPOL-AFRIPOL operation, Recovering over 2 million Euros and identifying more than 200 bank accounts linked to the illicit activities of online financial crime, worked alongside 24 other countries across Africa, to identify criminal networks linked to large financial losses, amongst others,” he narrated.

The Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, commended the police for their dodgedness in fighting crime, protecting lives and property and preservation of law and order within and around the country.

Senator Uzodimma called on the Police Service Commission and state governments to explore how to capacitate Nigerian Police to make them more effective and efficient by offering some incentives to motivate them to serve better.

Earlier In his address, the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, said the conference was a platform for the leadership of the Force to critically assess the security situation in the country.

According to the IGP, the aim is to adequately confront the array of challenges in the internal security space.

“The Police Force under my watch is poised to confront head on the menace of violent crimes in our country, restore calm to troubled areas and engender an atmosphere of peace, safety and security which will promote national economic growth and prosperity,” the IGP promised.

He maintained that the theme for this year’s conference and retreat: “Fostering Economic Prosperity, Social Integration and Political Development through Enhanced Internal Security Mechanism,” was derived from the policing vision of the new police leadership in the country.

The purpose is to put in place “a professionally competent, service driven, rule of law compliant and citizen friendly police force, which will support the agenda of government in fostering economic recovery and growth as well as social integration and political development of Nigeria.”

The event was well attended by representatives of South East State Governors, top police officers, top officers from sister security agencies and government officials.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU