Ugo Nosiri, Owerri
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to invest in resources to improve the quality of police; acquire security assets to make the job of policing easier across the length and breadth of the nation.
President Tinubu stated this in a message to the opening ceremony of the 4th edition of the Conference and retreat for senior Police officers held in Owerri, the Imo State Capital.
The President who was represented by the Minister of Police affairs Senator Ibrahim Gaidam in his address at the opening ceremony of the three-day retreat for senior police officers, also promised to review the allowances and working conditions of the police officers and men.
He enjoined the officers and men of the police force to confront security issues to move the nation forward and make it more conducive for economic prosperity and national development.
“I have given approval for local and overseas training of officers to better equip and enable them to enhance their operational capacity, to secure the nation and constantly make Nigeria safe.”
The president of Interpol Mr. Ahmed Naser Al Raisi in his keynote address, commended the Nigerian police force for it’s efforts in ensuring the safety and security of the local population, while working alongside police forces from neighboring countries to fight against organised crime in West Africa, since joining lINTERPOL in 1960.
“Nigeria’s Police Force has continued to action its vision of making Nigeria safer and more secure for everyone living here. Nigeria has also played a Key role in tackling regional and international crime.”
Mr. Al Raisi listed some of the vital roles the Nigeria police force has played in several INTERPOI operations to include, demonstrating its commitment to tackling transnational crime.
“This year alone, the joint INTERPOL-AFRIPOL operation, Recovering over 2 million Euros and identifying more than 200 bank accounts linked to the illicit activities of online financial crime, worked alongside 24 other countries across Africa, to identify criminal networks linked to large financial losses, amongst others.”
The Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, commended the police for their doggedness in fighting crime, protecting lives and properties and preservation of law and order within and around the country.
Senator Uzodimma called on the Police commission and state governments to explore how to capacitate Nigeria Police to make them more effective and efficient by offering some incentives to motivate them to serve better.
Earlier In his address, the Inspector General of Police, Ag Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, said that the conference was a platform for the force leadership to critically assess the security situation in the country with a view to adequately confronting the array of challenges in the internal security space.
“The Police Force under my watch is poised to confront head on the menace of violent crimes in our country, restore calm to troubled areas and engender an atmosphere of peace, safety and security which will promote national economic growth and prosperity.”
He maintained that the theme for this year’s conference and retreat “Fostering Economic Prosperity, Social Integration and Political Development through Enhanced Internal Security Mechanism” was derived from the policing vision of the new police leadership in the country, to emplace a professionally competent, service driven, rule of law compliant and citizen friendly police force which will support the agenda of government in fostering economic recovery and growth as well as social integration and political development of Nigeria.
The event was well attended by representatives of South-East state governments, top police officers, top officers from sister security agencies as well as government officers.
