Posted by From BEN OKEZIE, Minna on
The Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro has announced a police housing scheme that will produce 100,000 housing units with 10.000 to be completed in the next 18 months.
The Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro has announced a police housing scheme that will produce 100,000 housing units with 10.000 to be completed in the next 18 months.
Already the project has commenced in five states of the federation and will be integrated into the state government residential estates to improve the police community relations and promote greater harmonious living environment with the general public.
Okiro, who said this in his keynote address at a police workshop for the force works department, lamented that some police buildings had collapsed and called on the participants to think out ways of involving private sector participation in the police housing scheme.
He noted that as the police is ready to provide decent housing accommodation to every member of the force, it is expected that police men should also reciprocate by ensuring that these houses are well maintained.
The programme which kicked off yesterday, was attended by the Governor of the state, Dr. Babangida Alli, who was represented by his Commissioner for Works, Engineer Ndamisa Saminu who promised the police of better collaboration in the proposed police housing scheme.
Among the top police officers at the retreat are AIG works, Alhaji Muazu Hadejia, the AIG incharge of Zone 7, Mrs Ivy Okonkwo and representatives of Messers SAF Concepts Limited, the firm handling the housing project. The two days retreat is being organized for all key officers of the works department of the police force in Minna, Niger State.
The IGP's address was read by DIG Ogbonnaya Onovo, who stood in for the IG. He said the retreat was a follow-up to the recommendation of the inter-ministerial committee set up by the president which suggested three types of residential accommodation schemes for Nigeria Police Force.
The IG expressed his displeasure at the deplorable state of the existing police barracks and the lack of infrastructural facilities like plumbing system, road network, drainage, sewage and electricity..
He described the situation in most of the police barracks as pitiable, adding that dirtiness is now synonymous with most police barracks.
He noted that as the police hierarchy is ready to provide decent accommodation for every member of the force, officers and men should also reciprocate the gesture by ensuring that they maintain the houses they are living in.
It is expected that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro and the state governor will participate at the closing ceremony.