President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to continue with the ongoing reform of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to meet international standards.
While commissioning yesterday 139 police operational vehicles, NPF Crime and Incident Database Centre, and National Joint Command and Control Centre at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Buhari said that the leadership of the force was making progress despite inheriting internal security challenges that were characterised with banditry, kidnapping and others.
A total of 139 Hilux patrol vehicles including 46 Police Smart Surveillance (CCTV Camera-on-the Move) vehicles, 11 Tactical Operations Vehicles fitted with state-of-the-art surveillance equipment, nine Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), five Troop Carriers and seven Anti-Riot Water Cannon Trucks were commissioned by the President.
Buhari said: “I am aware that the IGP inherited internal security situation characterised by bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, and highly organised criminals in some parts of the country. The nature of these crimes affected confidence in the capacity of the police to protect lives. I am confident with the strategies put in place and the quality of leadership being provided there will be confidence to enhance the operational capacity of the police.
“I know that the force has been collaborating effectively with state governments, strategic stakeholders and other security agencies to restore security in states. I charged the police leadership to avoid complacencies in the efforts towards getting the country out of crime.
“In addition, my regime plans to bequeath to our nation a legacy of a reform, modernise, fully-equipped and highly-motivated and focused police force that is oriented to the virtue of professionalism, respect for rule of law, due process and best international practices in their operations. It is in cognisance of this that I approved the recruitment of 10,000 police personnel on an annual basis to motivate and enhance the manpower of the force, it is also in this regard that I assented to the Police Trust Fund Bill,” he said.
The inspector-general of police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, said that the acquisition of the Police Smart Surveillance Vehicles which are fitted with high-resolution, long-distance CCTV-monitoring equipment with night electronic functionalities was part of the policing strategies to deploy surveillance technology in crime management operations.
