President Mohammadu Buhari, flanked by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt. Gen. Lucky Irabor, Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba (IGP) Usman Baba Alkali, during the official commissioning of operational equipment for the police at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja, Monday
Buhari commissions operational vehicles, others for police ahead 2023 polls
Ahead of the forthcoming General elections in the country slated for February 25 and March 11, this year, President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned operational assets, including vehicles, acquired by the Nigeria Police Force for improved deployments.
The event which took place at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja, Monday, had the President Buhari commission the equipment which include; operational vehicles, crowd control and anti-riot gadgets, and high capacity desktop and laptop computers.
A statement released by the Police spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejumobi, Monday, said the equipment were acquired to ensure proper enforcement of electoral laws and seamless electioneering process and stabilizing the public space before, during, and after the general elections and for the purpose of enhancing the capacity of the NPF to manage civil disorder in line with acceptable national legal framework and global law enforcement protocols.
Remarking at the commissioning ceremony, Buhari hailed efforts of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba ‘in advancing the commitment of his administration to a reformed, modernized, fully equipped, highly motivated and citizens’ focused Police Force that is re-oriented to the virtues of professionalism, respect for the rule of law, due process, operational efficiency and best international practices in policing the nation.’
In a related development, IGP Usman Baba has met with Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs), as well as Commissioners of Police (CPs) across the nation at the Force Headquarters, in Abuja over the forthcoming polls.
According to Adejumobi, the conference, which is the first for the year 2023, is targeted at reviewing the internal security of the country and reassess the NPF’s strategies towards the imminent 2023 General Elections.
“The Inspector-General of Police tasked the Strategic Police Managers to safeguard the public space for the elections in active synergy with other security agencies. While charging them to make certain that quasi-security outfits created and owned by state governments are precluded from the election duty, he stressed that national security interest overrides personal interest and as such, in line with the directives of Mr. President, the election shall be policed in a civil manner with full compliance with the rule of law. “The IGP also warned all officers to remain apolitical in ensuring free, fair and credible elections,” the statement read.
