The Federal Government has restated its commitment to the implementation of the Renewed Hope Police Agenda, a policing strategy designed based on local peculiarities and considerations with communities and stakeholders participation.
The Minister of States for Police Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, stated this during a citizens town hall engagement on strengthening community policing in Nigeria on Wednesday in Lafia.
The theme of the town hall engagement is, Community Policing: Building a Safer Nigeria Together.
She pointed out that the town hall engagements across the country would catalyse grassroots understanding of security dynamics and foster community-specific solutions.
The minister stated that security is inherently local, and people’s approach must reflect an appreciation for each community’s distinct characteristics, challenges, and strengths.
“Security is local, and must acknowledge and embrace the unique dynamics of each community in our pursuit of a safer nation.
“Today’s town hall is a reflection of the significant shift in our approach to policing. As you may be aware, Section 14(2)(b) of The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 puts the security and welfare of our people as the government’s priority, ” she said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that President Bola Tinubu has placed security at the centre of the administration’s eight(8) priorities, and they have commenced the implementation of the Renewed Hope Police Agenda, which will ensure that the police force is strategically positioned to fulfill its mandate.
According to her, at the heart of this Renewed Hope Police Agenda is the implementation of a community policing strategy that is designed based on local peculiarities and considerations, with the full participation of members of the various communities and stakeholder blocks, to ensure inclusivity and full ownership.
She lauded Nasarawa state for its uniqueness in terms of its diversity and for demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges, especially security challenges.
She noted that the substantial miner deposits Nasarawa State that attracted both local and international attention, its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the attendant socio-economic opportunities had increased the security burden on the state.
The minister reiterated that the Renewed Hope Police Agenda for Nasarawa State, therefore, seeks to build on local efforts while supporting the existing collaborations that have made the state a shining example of effective security measures within the North Central region.
She outlined the six foundational pillars that serve as strategic frameworks designed to redefine and strengthen the Nigeria Police Force, which include Technical and Operational Excellence: Infrastructure Advancement: Welfare Enhancement: Policy Framework Development and Re-branding, Strategic Communication, and Public Trust Management.
Also speaking, Alh. Mogaji Olaniyan, the National Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), represented by the National Vice Chairman, Don Kenneth Otuonunyo, said that police were the main focus in policing and that security revolved around them.
He noted that there was a wide gap between Nigeria Police Force and the society, making policing difficult in the country.
He maintained that the community must be ready to collaborate with the police by availing them with information that would enhance their performance in the country.
“Police work 24 hours every day without a break and they need support and encouragement to succeed,” he said.
In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state lauded the Minster of State for Police Affairs for her dedication and leadership in driving the critical reform aimed at transforming policing in Nigeria.
He said that the town hall would provide the state government with a crucial platform to explore new ideas, gather valuable insights and strengthen the state’s collective approach to ensuring the safety and security of the state.
“We are confident that under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and his renewed policing strategy, we will see enhanced collaboration, innovative solutions and a stronger commitment to addressing our security challenges in Nigeria,” he said.
He urged the private sector and other relevant stakeholders to support the Renewed Hope Police Agenda to achieve its objectives.
In his welcome remarks, the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Kayode Egbetokun, represented by the Deputy Inspector General, Intelligence, DIG Dasuki Galadachi, revealed that his in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) had approved the Crime Data Analysis and mapping survey in all the local government areas in the country.
He said that the data analysis would determine the strategy to be deploy to tackle security challenges in each local government area of the country. (NAN)