The Federal Government is set to strengthen ties with the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL).
The Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. (rtd) Abdulrahman Dambazau, stated this when he received separately the INTERPOL Secretary-General, Jurgen Stock, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Jens-Petter Kjemprud, in Abuja.
Gen. Dambazau underscored the importance of INTERPOL in dealing with issues of organized criminal activities – terrorism, insurgency, drug and arms trafficking, and human trafficking.
He emphasized that as a responsible member of the organisation, Nigeria would provide the needed synergy to strengthen the global network for fighting crimes and criminality.
He noted that the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Immigration Service, integral parts of INTERPOL, are Services under the Ministry, and promised the organisation maximum corporation in the execution of their mandate of fighting international crime.
Gen. Dambazau sought for closer collaboration in the fight against terrorism, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, illicit drugs, irregular migration and human trafficking.
Responding, the INTERPOL Secretary General, Jurgen Stock, described Nigeria as a strong member of the 192-member countries’ organisation, and appreciated the role of Nigeria, especially in the provision of manpower to man its regional office in Abidjan.
He also commended Nigeria for its role in the establishment of integrated approach to fighting cross-border crimes, which involves information sharing, as well as her immense contribution to global security, and provision of strong leadership in the sub-region.
He appreciated the professionalism of Nigerian officers seconded to the regional office of INTERPOL in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
The INTERPOL Secretary General said that there has been an unprecedented rise in global crime on account of technology, and stressed the need for strengthening of global security networks to dismantle such criminal networks.
In another development, while receiving the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Jens-Petter Kjemprud, the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. (rtd) Abdulrahman Dambazau, said government had put in place the Executive Order on Ease of Doing Business as part of efforts to encourage foreign investors.
He noted that away from Oil and Gas, Nigeria also has huge potentials for investment in the Agriculture sector as well as the Mine and Steel sector, adding that government would secure the environment for such investments top thrive.
Earlier, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Jens-Petter Kjemprud, stated the importance of securing the business environment to encourage foreign investments from his country.
