Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam has reiterated the need for the Police ecosystem to collectively address the issue of response time to distress calls by Nigerians, to enable them to enjoy a safer environment.
Gaidam stated this while receiving an official briefing alongside the Minister of State Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim by the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The statement issued on Thursday by the Deputy Director of Press in the ministry, Bolaji Oladimeji stated.
Gaidam said this can be achieved through the effective use of technology, inter-agency collaboration, the building of mutual trust, and proper management of information.
He said: “By working together, we can enhance national security and create a safer environment for all.
“To enhance our response capabilities, we need to establish a standby force of at least three units of the Police Mobile Force in each state command. This will ensure a rapid and effective response to unforeseen incidents.
“Community engagement and trust building should be emphasised as well. The police force must actively involve the communities they serve, fostering a sense of cooperation and partnership. By enhancing coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement, we can create a unified front against crime and ensure a more effective response.”
Gaidam affirmed that in tackling the diverse range of criminal activities, the Police needed to establish specialised units that could address each type of crime.
He said; “This will require comprehensive training and capacity-building programs for our officers and investing in technology for surveillance and crime prevention will greatly enhance our capabilities in maintaining law and order.
“Effective intelligence gathering mechanisms are critical for proactive crime prevention. We must establish robust systems to gather and analyze intelligence, enabling us to stay one step ahead of criminals. Strengthening cooperation between the police and the judiciary is also essential to ensure the smooth administration of justice.”
The Minister also emphasised the need to establish mechanisms for monitoring police conduct to maintain high standards of professionalism and ethics through the use of body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras and operational vehicles.
Gaidam stressed that it would ensure that the rights and dignity of every citizen are respected at all times.
In his words, “We will not tolerate indiscipline within the police force, and discipline must be observed by all officers, regardless of rank or cadre. This platform serves as a crucial opportunity for fruitful discussions and the exchange of perspectives on formulating a robust working plan for the Nigeria Police.
“As someone who has served as a governor and Chief Security Officer of one of the most embattled states affected by Boko Haram for over a decade, I understand the urgent need for police reform by global best practices in policing to ensure public safety.”
In her remarks, the Minister of State, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated that the presentation of the acting Inspector General of Police was holistic and forward-looking which would be very helpful as the ministry crafts a way forward towards achieving renewed hope policing agenda of Mr. President which is very ambitious. Working together as partners in progress would enable us to achieve it.
On community policing, she said that “it aligned with the thought of the ministers which is critical and everyone must key in with it to enable increased confidence of the citizens in policing as we are working for them, which requires a lot of reforms and cooperation of the stakeholders.”
“Intelligence-driven policing is not negotiable and the police force must be seen as a technology-driven organization this requires ambitious investment to implement,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed.
Earlier in his presentation, the Acting IGP, Kayode Egbetokun congratulated the Ministers for their appointment.
The Police boss said “the entire police force is excited about the choice of Mr. President and has confidence that the day ahead would be very good for Nigerians.”
He briefed the Ministers on general operations, challenges, and general internal situation in the country as well as presented a template for the Ministry to generate policies for the police ecosystem in the country.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
