IG Determined To Reform Police

 

Abubakar said this at the Justice for All conference with police commissioners in Abuja.

The theme of the conference is ``Connecting With Our Communities”.

In a keynote address, the I-G expressed his readiness to introduce a more efficient police system which every police officer and Nigerian would be proud of.

``I am resolute to introduce the necessary changes required to bring about sustainable reforms.

``This administration is, therefore, poised to work harder to meet the needs and expectations of the Nigerian public,” he said.

Abubakar urged the commissioners to take the lead by using the knowledge gained from the conference in their dealings with the public.

``I want to see that change in your respective commands with an enhanced delivery of police services in all your respective communities,'' he said.

In his comments, Dr Bob Arnot, National Programme Manager, Justice for All (J4A) Programme, outlined the role of the UK government, through its Department for International Development (DFID), in assisting community policing in Nigeria.

Arnot said that J4A was a programme agreed by the DFID and the Nigerian government on how to work with the police to reconnect with their communities.

They also work with the justice department and anti-corruption agencies to improve capacity and assist in the reform agenda of the government

``We are working with the NPF to assist them to reconnect with their communities so that by the end of the day, the police will be authentic with the communities on their side.

``The police cannot just be a force of occupation but of service to the people,” he said.

In his paper, Mr Parry Osayande, a retired Deputy Inspector-General and Chairman, Police Service Commission, in advised police officers to be skilled in all areas of police work. 

In the paper enttiled ``Effective Leadership for Modern Police Executives'', Osayande also advised the superior officers to listen to their subordinates as nobody knew it all.

``Superiority is only one rank brought by merit and length of service. It stands to reason, therefore, that a commanding police officer is not necessarily superior in intellect, training or skills to those he leads.

``Therefore, his style of leadership should be democratic. This does not take away from him his authority to assign duties, coordinate and supervise his subordinates,'' he said.  

A participant, Mr Hamman Sule, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, commended the initiative of the organisers of the conference, saying that it was a right step in the right direction.

Mr Muhammed Indabawa, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, said the conference ``is a wonderful development as this will further enhance coordination in community policing''.

``We shall go down the ladder to impart the knowledge to our subordinates and they will also do the same. This will continue down to the grass roots which will certainly bring about improvement,” he said.