Government’s strides at completely ridding the society of crimes may remain a pipe-dream unless Nigerians complement the efforts, Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), has said.
“Population increase in Nigeria is high and yet, we cannot continue to increase the number of police officers and men because the wage will be too high. But by giving quality training and provision of intelligent apparatus to the police, manpower reduction and confidence building are achievable to fight crime. However, the police need to partner with the community to assist in intelligence gathering.”
Explaining that President Goodluck Jonathan’s support for the Nigeria Police has brought improvement to the Force, he said: “The reform programme of the Federal Government has enhanced professionalism of the police by providing logistics and equipment, training, capacity building, community policing and welfare. At the moment, the zonal Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and Police Commissioners of various state commands are more accountable thanks the President’s uncompromising stance on accountability. We thank the populace for giving information to the police, but they must do more in this New Year so that the police can serve them better.”
The former Military Administrator of Bayelsa State added: “We now have reformed budgets targeted at making provisions for the police to boost professionalism. The regular budget is mainly managed by the Inspector General of Police and the Police Management Team for capital and recurrent expenditures of the police. In the last two years, a lot has been accomplished within the resources provided, particularly in the reform budget.”
He noted that when releases to the ministry was dwindling owing to illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation, Jonathan directed the Vice President, who is the Chairman of the Interim Implementation Committee on Police Reform Programme, to find an alternative way of funding the reform programme. “This initiative brought about the needed solution to fund the programme,” he said.
Olubolade, who praised governors of the 36 states for supporting the initiative by contributing one per cent of their monthly allocation to the reform programme, further said: “Within 2013, Mr. President gave various approvals to fund vital projects and programmes of the police. It is through such approvals that the payment of acquired helicopters, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), utility vehicles, arms and ammunition, including training of helicopter pilots and Special Forces, were made. The President also approved the upgrading of the Police Academy, WUDIL, Kano to a degree-awarding institution. The Academy will now function like the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) of the military, where professional officers will graduate to take charge of the rank and file of the police. The Police Staff College, Jos, got a face-lift. Police Colleges and Training Schools are now receiving attention”.
“A few months ago, the Commander-In-Chief constituted a Presidential Committee to re-organise the Nigeria Police Force as part of the transformation agenda of this administration. Another committee was set up for the establishment of a forensic and DNA facility for the Nigeria Police. I chaired the committee. The reports of these committees have been submitted for consideration. One important project is the National Security Public Communication System (NSPCS) which comprises video conferencing and surveillance equipment and the GOTA system used for communication. The NSPCS have cameras that are fitted in Lagos and Abuja at the moment and will also cover other states later. The project is now operational,” he said.
On the one per cent of state’s monthly allocation, Olubolade further explained: “It is taking off this January to complement all the arrangements put in place to address inadequate funding of the police. Governors will now embrace the reform programme properly as the Chief Security Officers of their states. This will hopefully limit the clamour for State Police.”
