Posted by By UBONG UKPONG, Abuja on
A nine-man delegation from the European Union (EU), has arrived in the country, to ascertain the quality of arrangement on ground by the police and other stakeholders, for a successful election in Nigeria.
A nine-man delegation from the European Union (EU), has arrived in the country, to ascertain the quality of arrangement on ground by the police and other stakeholders, for a successful election in Nigeria.
While being received yesterday by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Sunday Ehindero, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the leader of the delegation, Andrew Bruce, said they were sent by the EU Commission on an exploration mission, to see the extent of arrangements that have been put in place towards the forth coming elections.
'We are here to listen and learn about the forthcoming elections and to ask three questions; whether it will be useful, feassible and advisable, for the EU to deploy monitors and election observation mission during the elections", Bruce stated.
Clarifying that the delegation was not part of the elections monitoring mission, he said; 'if the EU decides to send monitors, that will be independent and will be headed by a chief observer from the EU Commission".
Bruce, who disclosed that his group was only concerned with studying the nation's state of preparedness for a sucessful transition and reporting same to the Commission for actions, said they had only two weeks in the country, within which they will tour round all the regions, after finishing from the nation's capital, Abuja.
Responding, the IGP, pointed out that for elections to have credibility, there is need for input from the international community in terms of monitoring, adding that this would not be the first time the EU will be sending observers during elections.
In a related development, fifty-one senior police officers (SPOs), all of the ranks of superintendent,with an Assistant commissioner of police (ACP), as team leader, are set to leave for Huston Texas, United States, where they are to undergo series of training
on community policing.
Addressing the officers, in preparation for their departure, the IGP, charged them to be of good conduct and make sure they do not take any unlawful items along with them.
'We are sending you abroad to learn and bring back the benefits of what you have learnt there to implement community policing in Nigeria. You must understand that going to abroad implies being an ambassador. You must behave well.", the IG stated.
He disclosed that twenty, out of the total number of officers for the training, which will last for four weeks, are being sponsored by Mac Arthur Foundation, while the remaining number is going on the ticket of the police.
Speaking on behalf of the officers, the team leader and an ACP, Ademola Omole, thanked the sponsors for the previlege, promising to uplift the image of the force and the country, adding that the officers will come back as change agents.