….. Tinubu sets up constitutional review committee on Police Reforms
By Chesa Chesa
The National Police Council has confirmed Kayode Egbetokun as the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Egbetokun, as the acting Inspector-General of Police on June 20, pending confirmation by the Police Council.
The Police Council, chaired by the President and consisting of the 36 governors, the Minister of the FCT, Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), confirmed Egbetokun.
Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, announced Egbetokun’s confirmation as the IGP to state house correspondents after the meeting.
He highlighted Egbetokun’s impressive curriculum vitae and international exposure.
Similarly,President Tinubu has set up a special committee to evaluate the inadequacies of the Nigerian police in the 1999 Nigerian constitution.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who disclosed this to State House journalists stated that the committee which consists of the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
According to him, the committee is to collaborate on a shared reform agenda to ensure the comprehensive overhaul of the Nigeria Police.
Mohammed said Egbetoken’s confirmation led to extended deliberations concerning the Nigeria Police Force.
“The confirmation of the IGP prompted further discussion on the Nigeria Police Force and the President has formed a special Committee to look at all the gaps in Nigeria’s 1999 constitution with a view to bring harmony and synergy, closing technology and manpower to the Nigerian Police force.
“The committee comprise of the Minister of Police Affairs, NSA, Chairman of PSC and the Chairman of the NGF to work on common on reform agenda with a view to make sure that the Nigeria Police is reformed.” he said.
Also speaking on the confirmation of the IGP,Ogun State Governor,Dapo Abiodun noted, Egbetoken’s professionalism in the Nigerian Police Force, Community Policing and adequate funding for the Nigerian Police Force.
Abiodun disclosed that the National Police Council observed that no meaningful reforms has taken place in the Nigerian Police force since its creation in 1861.
He added that the newly set up committee will come up with ideas that would lead to reforms that will characterize the new Nigerian Police force.
“The newly confirmed IGP is adequately prepared, his CV is extremely rich very experience, intellectually and practically. He also addressed us as a council on the State of policing in Nigeria, amongst other things that he highlighted he spoke about the need for technology driven policing.
“The need for community-based policing, the need to ensure that required budgetary provision is provided for community-based policing which has been proven to be very effective”
Abiodun further revealed that the newly confirmed IGP also addressed the Council on major Police requirements which involved technology-driven policing.
“The IGP also remarked on professionalism of the police canvassing that each police man must be endowed with certain qualities and they should be encouraged to maintained such qualities so that they will be professional.
“The issue of funding also came up and this committee of 4 to 5 people will look at these issues that borders on reforms. We observed that there have been no meaningful reforms since the establishment of the Nigerian Police Force.
“So we believe that with the newly set up committee they will come up with ideas that would lead to reforms that will characterise the new Nigerian Police force”, he added.
In attendance at the briefing were the Ministers of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam and Iman Sulieman Ibrahim, Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun and the Bauchi State Governor and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase.
