I will transform the police to be more people-friendly – Arase

The Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, on Thursday canvassed for a strong Police Force for effective policing of Nigeria. Dambazau stated this during a familiarisation visit to the Nigeria Police Force headquarters, Abuja. “Police is the most strategic as far as internal security is concerned.

“The issue of Public safety and internal security mostly rests squarely on the shoulders of the police, the others are merely complimenting their efforts,“he said. He charged the police leadership to work toward changing the bad perception of Nigerians about activities of the police. “We must do a lot to change the perception about the Nigeria Police Force.

“We want to have strong police force that will be able to face emerging modern challenges. “We have a plan to look at the short and long terms in repositioning the Force,“he said. Dambazau stressed the need for a strong policy on carrier projection in the force.

On prison congestion, the minister said that the police had a major role to play in the decongestion of Nigerian prisons by ensuring in depth investigation of cases. He also said that there was a need for the police to investigate allegations thoroughly before taking the matter to court, to avoid delay.

“Where you don’t have detailed and almost near perfect investigation it will become very difficult to prosecute and more people will be awaiting trial,“he said. The minister charged the police to articulate policies that would enhance the welfare of both serving and retired officers.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, stressed the need to review the funding mechanism for the police. Arase said that it was only through adequate funding of the police that the performance gap in policing could be addressed. He reiterated the force’s support to the administration of the minister to succeed in its quest to reposition the police.

“In this regard, and trusting in your continuous support and motivation, permit me to affirm my determination to transform the police to a more people-friendly police,“he said. In a remark, the Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mr Mike Okiro, charged officers and men of the Force to be committed to their duty.

Okiro said that they owed the Nigerian public a duty to provide security at all times. He commended the leadership of the police for its efforts at ensuring professionalism. The minister also inspected facilities at the complex, including the Police Hall of Fame and museum.