President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned 127 operational vehicles, a wide assortment of operational assets acquired to strategically improve on the operational capabilities of the Nigeria Police Force, particularly in crowd control and anti-riot operations which symbolizes a giant strides in advancing the police reform and re-equipment agenda.
The President said this at the commissioning ceremony of critical operational assets that were procured within the Special Presidential Intervention funds for the Nigeria Police Force took place today Monday 13th February, 2023 at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
President Buhari said, he is very delightful, particularly at this time, to witness yet another event which further symbolises a giant stride in advancing our Police reform and re-equipment agenda, as Nigeria is running a democratic system which is guided by the rule of law and the Police worldwide is recognized as the most symbolic Agency within the democratic governance and rule of law process.
"Therefore, any nation that is desirous of deepening her democratic credentials and advancing the course of rule of law, must prioritise the efficiency of her police institution.
"It is in cognizance of this that I have remained firmly committed to the reform agenda of our Police all through. The overriding goal is to modernize, reform and restore the dwindling primacy of our Police within the internal security architecture of the country, our nation’s criminal justice delivery system, and democratic process.
President Buhari noted that successive Force leaderships, particularly under IGP Usman Alkali Baba, have been advancing this vision. This is evidenced, not only by today’s event, but by similar landmark activities of the current Force leadership overtime, including the recent commissioning of an ultra-modern Police Headquarters and well-equipped Hospital in Yobe State.
He noted that the remarks of the Inspector General of Police that the acquisition of the assets being commissioned today was in furtherance to the broad plans of adequately and appropriately equipping the Nigeria Police towards guaranteeing a stable internal security order and emplacing peaceful, secure, and credible 2023 General Elections.
President Buhari therefore pledged to bequeath to the nation a democratic culture in which the police will not only be apolitical and impartial, during the 2023 general elections, but in which the process will be peaceful and secure, and the outcome truly reflective of the freewill of the citizens.
The President commended the efforts of the IGP in advancing the commitment of his administration to a reformed, modernized, fully equipped, highly motivated and citizens’ focused Police Force that is re-oriented to the virtues of professionalism, respect for the rule of law, due process, operational efficiency and best international practices in policing the nation.
In his remarks, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, said the acquisition of these items was to demonstrate the determination of the Force leadership to advance President’s commitment to a reformed, modernized, fully equipped, highly-motivated and citizens focused Police Force that is re-oriented to the virtues of professionalism, respect for rule of law, due process, operational efficiency and best international practices in our internal security mandates.
Baba noted that the assets were also procured with a view to bridging the operational gap in the Nigeria Police, position the Force for the stabilization of the internal security order ahead of the 2023 General Elections, and guarantee the attainment of a peaceful, secure, and credible exercise in the most operationally efficient manner.
He added that the assets assembled were procured as part of the broad strategic plan of the Force towards stabilizing the security space before, during and after the 2023 General Elections and for purpose of enhancing the capacity of the Nigeria Police to manage civil disorder in line with acceptable national legal framework and global law enforcement protocols
Earlier the Minister of Police Affairs,
stressed that, today’s event is therefore, not an isolated initiative. It is part
of the broad, well-thought-out, and
meticulously implemented policing strategy of
the Inspector-General of Police which is built
on his Leadership vision that internal security
order can be stabilized on a sustainable basis
only through a well-equipped, modernized,
highly resourced and appropriately trained
policing institution.
He said with the on-going operational assets procurement effort, he is
confident that the Nigeria Police, as the lead
agency in the election security process, has
been positioned well enough to police the
electoral process.
SpyeTV News reports that critical operational assets commissioned by President Buhari comprising of 88 Pick-Up Patrol Vans; 21 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs); 9 Prado Jeeps; 1 Coaster Bus; 10 Water Cannon Trucks; 2 Rapid Razor Security Wires Dispensing Trucks; 9,607 Bullet Proof Vests/Plates; 2,055 Ballistic Helmets 140,571 Long/Short Range Tear Gas Cell; 1,248 Anti- Riot Helmets; 3,000 Hand Grenades; 30 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs); 1,502 Stun Guns and AK47 Rifles with Assorted calibers of live ammunition; 300 HP Desktop Computers; 250 HP Laptop Computers; 150 Gubabi Fire Proof Safe; 100 Dragon Fire Proof Safe; and 150 Individual Filling Cabinets.
Dignitaries at the event were the Minister of Police Affairs, Minister of Women Affairs, FCT Minister, Senior Officers from the Armed Forces of Nigeria in attendance, Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff Lt General Faruk Yahaya, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao and Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo.