The Honourable Minster of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi has revealed that in the implementation of community policing initiative of the current administration about twentyfive thousand constabularies (25,000) were trained in several police colleges across the country.
He made this known during the 2nd Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Goodluck Jonathan International Peace Keeping Hall, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The Minister said the successful officers were trained on basic police duties, modern intelligence gathering techniques, rule of law and were deployed to their Local Governments of Origin to aid in intelligence gathering and improve police visibility in their communities.
In his words, “our efforts towards the actualization of increasing the number of police/citizens ratio, (418) Cadet officers of regular course 3 were successfully graduated in June 2021 and deployed into the operational asset of the Nigeria Police Force”.
He noted that he Ministry of Police Affairs through the Nigeria Police Force embarked on the re-organization and reform of Police Tactical Squads including the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and set up of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, (SWAT) on 13th October, 2020 to meet the yearnings and aspirations of citizens. Selected officers for this outfit, were trained at the new Police Mobile Training College, at Ende Hills in Nasarawa State. The Minister stressed.
Dingyadi pointed out that the reform became necessary in the wake of ENDSARS protest to reform police tactical operational outfit. He noted that, Government remained committed to sustainable implementation of legitimate demands of the protesters, which led to Establishment of Judicial Panels of Inquiry, to listen to complaints against police infractions in various state of the federation.
According to him, “as the Ministry determined to resolve all cases of allegation of police infractions against citizen’s right, on 30/7/2021, he inaugurated the Police Public Complaints Committee (PPCC) as a permanent structure that will help to effectively nip in the bud civil unrests and serve as opportunities for Nigerians to channel their grievances on the misconduct of police personnel”.
The committee is made up of officials of the Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission; Ministry of Justice; National Human Rights Commission; National Intelligence Agency; Non-Government Organization (CLEEN Foundation); Nigeria Police Force; and Police Community Relations Committee as well as Department of State Security Services (DSS). While we intend to give adequate publicity on the existence and functions of PPCC, arrangements will also be made for Nigerians to reach out to them either online or through a Dedicated Telephone Line to register their complaints.
The Minister expressed that the Ministry obtained approval from the Federal Executive Council for the concession of the 470 Million USD moribund National Public Security Communication Network, which has Close Circuit Television (CCTV) project as a major component adding that efforts are currently ongoing by the concessionaire to revive this project for the benefit of the Police and other security stakeholders.
The Minister stated that the problem of fueling of police operational vehicles will soon become history as the ministry in its 2021 budget, secured about 5 billion naira approval from the Federal Government for supply of fuel to Police Commands nationwide.
“The first round of supply was concluded about two months ago, while the second round will commence before the end of this month. This gesture aimed at improving operational efficiency of the Police, will be carried out on quarterly basis”. Dingyadi noted.
In his goodwill message, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola commended the Minister of Police Affairs for showing and signifying cardinal programmes of the present administration. “There cannot be transparent way of honouring this administration than those who are involve in the cabinet level to render account of what they do” He stressed.
PIC L-R; Commandant, Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, AIG Lawal Jimeta, Rep. of the Inspector General of Police, DIG Sanusi Lemu, Executive Secretary, Police Trust Funds, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto,Permanent Secretary, Police Service Commission, Alhaji Abubakar Ismaila,, Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Lawrence Babatunde |Ayeni and Permanent Secretary, Police Affairs, Mr. Tope Fashedemi during the 2nd Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Goodluck Jonathan International Peace Keeping Hall, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
