By Gbemiga Olamikan.
Minister of Police Affairs, Senator (Dr.) Ibrahim Gaidam has charged the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) to equip the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with both local and foreign sophisticated professional training to enable them to tackle terrorists, kidnappers, and other high crimes in the country.
Senator Gaidam made this known during the official briefing by Executive Secretary of Nigeria Police Trust Fund at the Ministry Headquarters in Abuja.
He said, “Instead of waiting to send 20 personnel abroad, you can send 10 that can be accommodated within available funds rather than jettison crucial professional training abroad that will impact their output to the nation”.
Gaidam said, “The Executive Secretary and his team should come up with a strategic plan on sending personnel on training outside the country while continuing to patronize local training available in the country. We need to send some of our personnel outside Nigeria to get highly sophisticated training that would enable them to tackle crimes in the country”.
The Minister recalled the problem of Boko Haram that started in Bornu State in 2009 before it spread to Yobe State in 2011 when he was the governor noting that it was not easy then despite the collaboration of both policemen and the military and the need to get well-trained personnel that will deal decisively with terrorists and kidnappers.
However Minister of State, Police Affairs Hajia Imaan Sulaima-Ibrahim assured that “It has to be standardized and tailored towards what will work for the police ecosystem and our population. It should not be about procurement alone but strategy planning that will focus on professionalism, patriotism, and transparency because our sector is one of the priority plans of Mr. President and it is critical to the National security of the country”
Narrating the success of the organization, Executive Secretary, of Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) Abdullahi Bala Pointed out the Construction and Rehabilitation of Police Offices and Barracks, He said one hundred and eight (108) projects have been completed (100%), while thirty (30) projects are near completion (70 – 90%), and twenty-eight (28) projects are still on-going (01 – 69%)
