ENUGU COMMISSIONER TAKES “JOIN POLICE CAMPAIGN” TO 17 LGAs

REPORTER: CHRISTIAN NWANGENE

Enugu State Government, says it has taken the campaign for Enugu youths to join police to the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.

The government said qualified youths in the state were yet to fill in the quota given to Enugu State, adding that it was worried that the gap would affect the state in future if youths failed to fill them.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Aka Eze Aka, stated this when he and his team visited Aninri and Awgu Council Areas on Wednesday to sensitise the youths in the area to the need to enlist in Nigeria Police Force.

The Commissioner, who said the Nigeria police had in October advertised that young people between the age of 18 and 25 were expected to join police, said it appeared that Enugu youths did not show interest in it.

“So Gov. Peter Mbah directed that we sensitise our people on the need of enlisting in the Nigeria police. That is why we gather traditional rulers, Presidents General, Youth Leaders and Councillors here today.

“Truly, we will be missing our opportunities if we fail to get recruited as the quota for Enugu State is yet to be filled up and government is worried that this gap will affect us in near future.

“If you notice in all the police checking points, they are other tribes and we are asking where are the Igbos?,” Mr. Aka queried.

The Commissioner, who expressed displeasure with how Igbos often complained of being marginalized in police, said how can they be at the head if they were nonchalance to be enlisted.

“Mbah is interested to ensuring that the youths of the state utilized the quota as he promised to assist those indicated interest to join the force.

“We are pleading that our people who are qualified to grab the opportunity and get registered.

“You should see police as a good job, those on the roads are not the only police officers and the concern of our Governor is that our quota must be filled,” he said.

The Commissioner further enjoined them to take the message to those at grassroots, stressing that the ongoing sensitisation would be carried out across the 17 Council Areas of the state.

Explaining further, the Commissioner’s Media Consultant, Mr. Onyekachi Ugwu, recalled how Igbos were more than any other tribe in police system before independence, saying the reduction was worrisome.

He added that there were no way an Igbo man could become the Inspector-General of Police if they were not in police.

Mr. Ugwu explained that only Secondary School Certificate was needed for enlistment in the ongoing recruitment.

He, however, urged the youths to imitate Mr. Frank Mbah, who was recently promoted to an Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

Also, the Chairman of Aninri Local Government, Mr. Ogbonnaya Ajah, while emphasising the need for the youths of the area to join police, said, “In police they have medical doctors, engineers, mechanics, electricians and many other you can be part of.”

He commended Mbah for initiating the campaign, stressing that it would help in creating employment for Enugu people.

Meanwhile, some of the youths who spoke on challenges facing them said they were tired of spending money without being recruited.

They complained of poor internet connectivity to access the portal and expresressed willingness to register but had out grown the required age.

Others are the issue of National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN).

Okorie Nathan from Aninri LGA, said he registered in 2019 and passed all the exams but was not selected, adding that he had outgrown the age required.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU