By Hassan Zaggi
The Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has expressed concern over the lack of cordial relationship between the general public and the police that would boast the confidence of both sectors to improve the security of lives and properties in the country.
The Minister stated this when the new leadership of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) visited him in his office in Abuja.
He, therefore, called on the leadership of the PCRC to improve the cordial relationship between the police and the general public.
The delegation of the leadership of the PCRC was led by its Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji Olaniyan.
“We need to inform Nigerians that the police is for them and get the public to appreciate that they are working for the community.
“This is very important and it is only when we are able to say the police are working diligently for this country and Nigerians are also appreciating what the police are doing that would improve the confidence of the public.
“What we need is to build and improve on good working relationships and encourage the public to appreciate the police,” the Minister said.
Commenting on the issue of the land for the PCRC in Jabi, the Minister said that his office is aware of the issues, noting that they have no problem with the people temporarily occupying the space because they know the land belongs to the PCRC.
“This land belongs to PCRC and to the best of my knowledge, they came to the Ministry to seek permission to do petty business on a temporary basis but I refused to grant them the permission and I told them to get in touch with the executive of the PCRC and if you are able to give them space to stay, it has to be on the agreement between your committee and them. I commend the new executive for taking the initiative to develop the land,” the Minister added.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Alhaji Ibrahim Mogaji Olaniyan, said his organization was ready to partner with the Ministry to improve the existing relationship between the police and the general public.
He noted that the visit was also targeted at informing the Minister of the encroachment of the PCRC land in Jabi and the decision of the new executive to develop twin offices for the organization.
He expressed the desire of the PCRC to make available 20,000 of their members across the nation to assist the police in traffic control without financial support from the government adding that what they required is training for their members to assist the police ecosystem.
In a related development, the Minister has assured the National Civil Society of Nigeria of the readiness of the Ministry to partner with them to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2023.
“We do whatever it takes to support your organization to ensure hitch-free elections in 2023. We welcome people who can partner and brainstorm with us so that together we work for credible elections in Nigeria”.
The Executive Director, National Civil Society of Nigeria, Mr Blessings Akinsotu, noted that there is going to be tension, misinformation in public places, unrest, violence and motivation of people against electoral umpire and the need for uniform civil societies in the country to champion credible and peaceful general election in the country.
According to him, “we understand that some elements are there to always play down a lot of issues that can lead to break down of law and order but we believe that if we have uniform movement, we can address some salient issues to tame some of these unrests.
