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FG, States, LGAs Earmark N420bn To Revamp Police
Agreement have been reached by the federal, states and local governments in Nigeria to contribute jointly the sum of N420 billion for the next five years to reposition the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Deputy Inspector – General of Police, DIG, (Retired) Mr. Parry Osayande, who made this public while addressing newsmen in Enugu at the weekend, explained that the money would be used in building modern police barracks, expand and modernize the existing ones, buying new equipments, train and re-train members of the NPF, expand and modernize the existing Police Colleges , as well as build one police college in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.
Mr. Osayande, who was in Enugu with other members of the commission in continuation of their nationwide visit of Police formations, further stated that the commission, also responsible for promotion and disciplinary matters in the NPF from the rank of constable to Deputy Inspector –General of Police (DIG), is committed to improving the NPF, in order to restore its lost glory.
While stating that the chairman of the proposed funds would be the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Mr Osayande also gave the hint that the eight-member commission was also mandated to revamp the force.
According to him, promotions in the NPF would no longer be based on Federal Character arrangement as it was in the past, saying that all promotions would henceforth be based purely on merit. He said this will serve as encouragement to policemen to work harder, expressing optimism that the transformation of the NPF would yield fruitful dividend at the end of the exercise.
“The Police Service Commission will no longer allow Federal Character to affect promotion exercises in the police. You don’t need to pay money to get promoted. “At the same time, you don’t need to pay money to be posted from point A to point B”, he said.
He, therefore, used the forum to warn members of the force on corruption , especially as it concerns extortion of money from motorists and innocent citizens, as well as human rights abuses, advising them to desist from such misconduct or be ready to face the music if apprehended.
The Edo state-born retired police officer, expressed regret that prior to the appointment of the present police service commission, men and officers of the police force, who were due for promotion were stagnated in their old ranks for years, assuring that the present commission under his leadership was poised to address the trend.
According to him, the commission is committed towards ensuring that the NPF is completely repositioned with a view to engaging its personnel in more proactive policing, adding the that welfare of the men and officers would continue to remain one of its top priority at all times.
Arrangements, he went on, are equally on for the establishment of some forensic laboratories in various parts of the nation, stressing that training and re- training of officers and men of the security outfit would also be given serious attention. He stated that the commission wants to put in place a police that is always battle ready to face the 21st century security challenges.
Admitting the alarming rate of corruption in the NPF, the PSC chairman also blamed some of the problems on under funding of the establishment by successive administrations in the country.
He, thus called on all and sundry to join hands with the commission and government in repositioning the force , saying that security remains the business of every “Dick and Harry”.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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