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IGP Baba’s 12-Point Agenda

AMIDST festering insecurity in the country with killings being the order of the day and the replacement of the former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, as well as the appointment of the new acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba by President Muhammadu Buhari, the new sheriff has rolled out a 12-point agenda, meant to drive the Nigeria Police Force under his watch.
PART of the 12-point agenda include: immediate dismantling of road blocks across the federation; immediate withdrawal of officers attached to private citizens (to open the space for private security companies to thrive); deduction of court-awarded damages from the salary of any officer found to have abused human rights; procurement and installation of video recording facilities in all investigation rooms of the force: immediate recruitment of 1,500 lawyers with litigation experience to be attached to each police division/area command. The lawyers are to give legal fervor to investigations and provide legal advice and serve as police prosecutors;
OTHER high points of the agenda include: building of new laboratories in 36 states and the FCT to analyze DNA, finger prints, blood samples, body fluids and so on; launching of vehicle procurement scheme for police personnel in partnership with Innoson and PAN (officers to get a new car and pay off over ten-twenty years); rapid rehabilitation of and restructuring of Police Academies and curriculum; any interstate transfer of officers to be effected with provision of transport and accommodation allowance; provision of two pairs of uniform and boots for all personnel, annually; increased allocation paid directly to each police division to run its operations; and Bi-monthly inspection and audit of police cells, to be carried out in conjunction with representative from the local NBA branch and the Bench.
NO doubt, these initiatives are laudable and appear, on the face-value, to be capable of repositioning the Nigeria Police Force into a more friendly and conscientious organization that is well placed to deliver on its mandate of securing the lives and property of the people, particularly given the vexation in the Nigeria security architecture.
THE Hope observes that this is not the first time such pronouncements by a police chief would be made, with such action plans in the past ending at the level of mere rhetoric. The specific points of action have very positive potential that would help prevent harassment on the highways, make more personnel available to secure the citizens, help create more jobs and grow businesses, redeem the battered image of the force, introduce scientific investigation, evidence gathering and diligent prosecution, mitigate abuses, promote accountability in the exercise of discretion, and help improve the welfare of the officers of the Nigerian Police.
IT is our opinion that the proposed tradition of releasing money directly to all police formations is a welcome development, as it would reduce the endemic corrupt practices and extortions perpetuated under the guise of poor funding of the outfit by the government. Specifically, the open financial administration would mobilise citizens as gatekeepers who would be emboldened to challenge possible extortion, as they would be aware that the Police have grants to run its activities.
WHEREAS most Nigerians are of the view that most personnel of the Nigeria Police have wrong socialisation and detestable attitudes, within the larger challenging characterization of the people, the various propositions by the new acting Inspector General of Police would make them more responsive and responsible, in the quest for effective policing in the country. Specifically, the intention to give police personnel pairs of uniform annually would enhance their dignity and self esteem, bring about uniformity in colour and texture, and help build a decent corporate image for the Police Force.
THE Hope however, believes that as attractive and desirable as these ideas are, there is the need to also emphasise training, retraining and psycho-social reorientation among the personnel of the Nigeria Police, as part of the overall attempt to relocate them away from the negative familiar domain. This is because attitudes formed over the years would require systematic purgation, for the purpose of setting a new order.
IT is further observed that the agenda would only be achieved when requisite funds are made available by the government. This is more so as the Nigeria economy has shrunk, due to the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic. While it would not be out of place for the innovations to attract private partnership, transparency and accountability would be needed to safely see the processes through.
SO far some of the agenda are yet to be complied with as, for instance, we still have roadblocks across the country, while police officers are still attached to private citizens. We hope the agenda would not end up as mere wishes.

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