Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set up a special committee to assess the shortcomings in Nigeria’s 1999 constitution, aiming to enhance coordination and align technology as well as manpower resources, towards strengthening the Police Force.
Briefing State House Correspondent after the Council Meeting confirmation of the IGP, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed said that Mr. Kayode Egbetoken’s confirmation led to extended deliberations concerning the Nigeria Police Force.
Bala stated that the committee consists of the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, the National Security Adviser, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, all collaborating on a shared reform agenda to ensure the comprehensive overhaul of the Nigeria Police.
He said; “The confirmation of the IGP prompted further discussion on the Nigeria Police Force and the President has formed a special Committee to look at all the gaps in Nigeria’s 1999 constitution to bring harmony and synergy, closing technology and manpower to the Nigerian Police force.
“The committee includes the Minister of Police Affairs, NSA, Chairman of PSC, and the Chairman of the NGF to work on a common reform agenda to make sure that the Nigeria Police is reformed.”
Also speaking on the confirmation of the IGP, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun said that IGP Egbetoken remarked on professionalism in the Nigerian Police Force, Community Policing, and adequate funding for the Nigerian Police Force.
Abiodun disclosed that the National Police Council observed that no meaningful reforms have taken place in the Nigerian Police Force since its creation in 1861.
The Governor said that the newly set up committee would come up with ideas that would lead to reforms that would characterize the new Nigerian Police force.
“The newly confirmed IGP is adequately prepared, he is CV is extremely rich very experience, intellectually and practically, he also addressed us as a council on the State of policing in Nigeria, amongst other things that he highlighted he spoke about the need for technology driven policing.
“The need for community-based policing, the need to ensure that required budgetary provision is provided for community-based policing which has been proven to be very effective,” he said.
The Ogun State Governor further stated that the newly confirmed IGP also addressed the Council on major Police requirements which involved technology-driven policing.
“The IGP also remarked on the professionalism of the police canvassing that each police man will have endowed certain qualities and they should be encouraged to follow those qualities so that they can be encouraged to follow such qualities so that they will be professional.
“The issue of funding also came up and this committee of 4-5 will look at these issues that borders on reforms. We observed that there have been no meaningful reforms since the establishment of the Nigerian Police Force. So we believe that with the newly set up committee they will come up with ideas that would lead to reforms that will characterise the new Nigerian Police force,” Governor Abiodun added.
In attendant at the briefing were the Ministers of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam and Iman Sulieman Ibrahim, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun and the Bauchi State Governor and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
