FG releases N15bn to Police for 2011 polls

Posted by admin Nigerian Police, Top Stories Sunday, February 6th, 2011

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mr Hafiz Ringim, weekend, disclosed that over N15 billion had been released to the Nigeria Police Force to purchase equipment and other necessary logistics, with a view to ensuring a successful general elections come April.

The sum, he said, also included retraining of policemen, pointing out that officers and men of the Force would have no excuse if they failed to deliver the expected result.

The Inspector-General of Police made the disclosure while addressing journalists at the passing out parade of 1,074 Cadet Assistant Superintendents of Police, ASPs, Specialists Course 1, at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to him, “it is on recorded that the Federal Government has given the Inspector-General of Police more than N15 billion for the purchase of equipment, to train manpower, purchase other necessary logistics and to pay the allowances of men and women of the Force that will take part in the 2011 general elections.

“The Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the men and women of this great service have no excuse or whatsoever and we will not fail. Come 2011 general elections, there will be free, fair executed general elections. We have shown the world, we have shown the people of this country that we are capable, from what is done in the primaries so far.”

Ringim also promised that the police would not take side during the forth coming general elections, adding: “I assure all Nigerians of peaceful general elections. You have seen what the police did during the parties’ primaries; no police person was accused of supporting one candidate against another.

“In same manner, the police will not take side with any political party or candidates. We shall provide security for all during and after elections.”

The IGP said the injection of the new police officers into the Force would, no doubt, improve the investigation of cases, particularly scientific cases.

“They are essentially forensic built detectives, and their job is to help, support the Nigeria Police Force in major crime investigations, particularly where scientific aid is preferred. All over the world, with the kind of terrorism and all other power major crime and offenses,” he said.

“Science is the main thing, because without scientific aid, without scientific assistance you can not but lose your case. The scene of crime and major investigations are science based exercises. These officers are essentially enlisted to move police crime investigation forward. It is on record that the Nigeria Police Force has made some effort for quite sometime to successfully investigate some obnoxious crime.

“With the coming on board of these officers, it will be kudos to the Nigeria Police Force. Because we shall have all the leverage. We shall have all the assistance we need all the man power, from day one to wrap up our investigation and charge them to court for prosecution.

On the ban on the use of siren nation-wild, the IGP said the decision was that of the government to curtail abuse
“It is not my decision but that of the Federal Government, my job is to enforce all orders and directives that come from the government, either from the federal executives or from the state and federal legislatures and that is exactly what we were trying to do.

“But essentially, I must tell you that some of the people using this siren are not permitted or allowed to use it buy the government. Even armed robbers are using siren to perpetuate their criminal tendencies. My job as the IG is to enforce those laws and particularly on those who do not have any business blowing the siren.”

-Vanguardwp_posts