The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Akali Baba, has charged officers and men of the Force to live up to expectations in combating crime across the country.
The IGP, who was fielding questions from journalists on the state of insecurity in the country at Police Cooperatives project inspection in Lagos, yesterday, said the management of the Force was not oblivious of security challenges in the country and were assiduously working on it.
He said the issue of Niger state insecurity is giving the force concern, but that the police are on top of the situation,” we are on it and we are doing everything possible to address the issue and I have charged the police to live up to expectation and be committed to their job.
He said the force is also investing in modern equipment to fight bandits in Niger state and other troubled areas in the country.
He said the welfare of officers and men are the priorities of his administration, adding that “the project is an international centre where we have hotel, shopping mall and other facilities, and we are in partnership with a company that will benefit the police and improve their welfare.
“We have equity of the land and we have also contributed money to the project, and at the end of it we will both have something to share. The police cooperative is where every police is a contributor, and we also build houses for our officers at an affordable price. Any policeman or woman who is ready to pay through his or her salary is ready to have the house, and the period the person still has to spend in the service are criteria to getting the housing larges.
“We have also started work on the dilapidated building in police barracks across the country. We have started with the Police College Barracks and there is conflicting interest everywhere and the resources we have are small. We are being careful with the little resources in order to touch other projects and rebuild our barracks and give them a face-lift. Concerning the new building, we are going to profile civilians who may want to buy in the building.”
He described the late Deputy Inspector General of Police, Egbunike, as a dedicated officer, a lawyer, accountant who served for 34 years and had six months left for him to leave the force.
“We have lost a gem; death is inevitable, everybody is waiting for his or her time. We also condole with the family he left behind.”
