By Nicholas Kalu, Abuja

Mr Temitope Fashedemi has assumed office as the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police Affairs (MPA).

This follows the recent deployment of Permanent Secretaries to man various Ministries, Departments and Agencies by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Addressing Directors of the Ministry, while taking over office in Abuja, he thanked the president for giving him the opportunity to serve.

He appreciated the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, for giving the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, the enabling environment to perform.

He said though there are many challenges associated with moving into a new environment, the need to focus on the mandate helps in overcoming such challenges.

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Temitope said that the security of the country, to a reasonable extent, rests on the shoulders of the Ministry of Police Affairs and stressed the need to build a good team and work together to achieve its corporate mandate.

The outgoing Permanent Secretary, Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri in his handing over speech, said that the separation of the Ministry of Police Affairs from the Ministry of Interior is one of President Buhari’s strategies in enhancing the effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.

He said though the Ministry was re-established with little or no resources, they had been able to record laudable successes through its activities and pro-activeness.

Speaking on the Ministry’s achievements during his tenure, the outgoing Permanent Secretary said that the most remarkable ones recorded by the Ministry were the establishment of the Police Trust Fund, the signing of the Police Reform Bill into law, the creation of five police formations in addition to the already existing 16 commands amongst others.

Director, Legal Services, Bolarinde Omoluabi, in a vote of thanks, said the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Dr. Maurice Nnamdi Mbaeri, served selflessly and ran and open door policy.

He promised on behalf of all the Directors to work harmoniously with the new PS in achieving the mandate of the Ministry.