Posted by By MURPHY GANAGANA, Abuja on
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has decried the high level of insecurity across the country, lamenting that Nigerians have been compelled to live like prisoners in their homes.
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has decried the high level of insecurity across the country, lamenting that Nigerians have been compelled to live like prisoners in their homes.
Speaking on Monday in Abuja, at the handing over ceremony of vehicles donated to the Nigeria police by the Police Equipment Fund Committee (PEFC), the president noted that the situation has become increasingly worrisome.
Yar'Adua, who was represented at the occasion by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, however, assured that drastic measures will be taken within the shortest possible time to reduce the prevailing crime wave.
Said he: 'There is no one that is happy about the insecurity in this country. Presently, we all live like prisoners. We live in houses that are over-protected and many lives have been lost to fire incidents and other accidents due to such security measures at our homes. Now, you can't move freely on the roads, and the Niger Delta problem is also there."
While admitting that the protection of lives and properties is a cardinal responsibility of the Federal Government, Yar'Adua solicited the support of the private sector and other well-meaning individuals in providing the enabling environment for the police to perform effectively, emphasizing that the issue of security is of paramount interest to his administration.
In his words, 'Security is one of the priorities of the present administration, and we will surely guarantee the security of lives and properties. Government will look into the welfare of police personnel within the limits of available resources. Although funding of the police is a responsibility of the Federal Government, it is a good thing if well-meaning individuals and the private sector are willing to assist."
As part of efforts towards ensuring better welfare for the police, the president assured that he will revisit the Police Trust Fund bill which was not passed into law by members of the immediate past National Assembly, and possibly re-present it for prompt consideration.
In his welcome address at the occasion, Ag. Inspector General of police, Mike Okiro, gave assurance that the present administration of the Nigeria Police Force will not let the nation down, just as he said the new vehicles handed over to the police would alleviate operational inadequacies.
Noting that the police high command is conscious of the expectations and responsibilities that goes with the acquisition of the new fleet of operational vehicles, Okiro expressed hope of a brighter future with the creation of a conducive and secured environment that will facilitate an inflow of foreign investments.
The IGP, who recalled that the administration of immediate past President Olusegun Obasanjo had provided 1,500 vehicles, 53 modern patrol boats, motorcycles and helicopters, to boost police hinterland, aerial and riverine patrols, commended former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, for ensuring the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Police Equipment Fund.
Okiro said the police will soon take delivery of 28 Armoured Personnel Carriers[APCs] which have been purchased by some banks under an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria[CBN] to effectively take cases of bank robbery and other violent crimes, even as he solicited the assistance of individuals and organizations in areas such as accommodation, communication equipment, as well as arms and ammunition for police personnel.
In his opening remarks, National Co-ordinator of the Police Equipment Fund Committee, Chief Kenny Martins, announced that the body, which was established in January 2006, under a Federal Government- private sector partnership, is now functioning as a Non-Governmental Organisation[NGO], with a formidable Board of Trustees and Board of Directors.
Describing the purchase of about 3000 vehicles to the police as the beginning of a formalized and active collaboration between the police and private sector, Martins noted that while his committee had tasked itself with raising N100bn within 12 months to equip the police for better performance, the response from the general public was very low.
He said committee is working towards providing accommodation to officers and men of the Nigeria police force on owner occupier basis, as well as a special insurance schemes for injured policemen and those who lost their lives in the line of duty.