THE Police need N1.13 trillion annually to function effectively, it was learnt yesterday.
This figure excludes funds for major capital projects such as arms and ammunition, purchase of new vehicles and other technological needs of the force.
Its leadership noted that N26.9 billion is needed to fuel and maintain 14,306 police vehicles and motorcycles.
Inspector General Ibrahim Idris said N14.5billion is required annually to provide adequate and appropriate uniforms and accoutrements for the personnel.
It is also estimated that N700 billion is needed to rehabilitate barracks, police stations and build new ones.
For the force to also do proper investigation and prosecution of law offenders, over N200 billion is required.
Idris gave the figures at a public hearing on a “Bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria Police Reform Trust Fund and for other related matters”.
The IG noted that poor funding has negatively affected the turnout of police personnel.
He said: “What is required to run the force excluding major capital projects like arms and ammunition, purchase of new vehicles, gun boats, helicopters and other technological needs is conservatively put at N14.132,532,142,242.”
Supporting the immediate passage of the bill, the IGP said: “In 2017 budget, only N36.1billion was allocated to the Police for both capital and overhead costs.
“This is a far cry from the N1.13 trillion conservatively estimated. This difference is alarming and has sounded the loud trumpet that the regular budgetary allocation to run the police is sharply inadequate and requires urgent measure to address, if the Force must be effective and responsive to the security needs of Nigerians in a complex and dynamic policing space.
“The Police Trust Fund is the answer because it would provide alternative and regular funding for the police.
“The urge for the economic development of Nigeria is only possible, if the security challenges are resolved. To have security in Nigeria, the Police which is the foremost security agency must be funded and to fund the Police, the Police Trust Fund is the desired solution.”
The bill if passed into law would be channeled into providing communication and information technology infrastructure, patrol and operational vehicles and other facilities, provision of full complement of arms and ammunition, riot control equipment, protective gear and, armoury and firing range, clothing and accoutrement, rehabilitation and construction of police offices and stations, personnel welfare, among others.
The IG, who objected the six year life span of fund, suggested that the fund be sustained after its establishment.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, stated that the passage of the bill would improve welfare of the personnel, which would in turn boost the discharge of their duties.
On his part, the Chairman House Committee on Police Affairs, Haliru Jika, while supporting the bill, also noted that the structure of allocation would not give Nigerians the desired police.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, while supporting the passage of the bill, suggested that a 10- year jail term for whoever misappropriates the fund.
Olonisakin, who was represented by Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Shafi, said: “We are all together with the Police on the issue of its trust fund. But we are of the opinion that whoever misappropriates the fund to be accrued from the Police Trust Fund be penalised.”
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal, Sadiq Abubakar, who was represented, expressed support for the bill and another bill, which places the management of explosives in care of the Police.
Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said to prevent monumental fraud, people of impeccable character should manage the Fund.
