RSG Calls For Improved Police Funding

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has called on the Federal Government to improve the funding of the Nigerian Police Force to enable it effectively fight crime in the country.

Governor Amaechi made this call Friday when the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Port Harcourt.

Represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Governor Amaechi noted that the only way the Police could confront criminals is by changing its strategies, re-training its officers and men, and motivating them to meet the current challenges.

According to the governor, “the game has changed, so we must change our strategies. The things we did yesterday and got results are outdated, the criminals have changed their strategies, so it is important we move on and meet them at the point where we used to meet them, and that means, we have to change our strategies”, adding that “we have to rejig the Nigerian Police Force, which translates to more training and reorientation of the average police officer”.

He urged the police to upgrade its equipment and motivate its personnel to enable it perform efficiently, reiterating the continued support of the state government to the Nigerian Police.

While attributing the improved situation in the state to the efforts of the police, the governor congratulated Alhaji Abubakar on his elevation as the 16th indigenous Inspector General of Police”.

Earlier, the IGP, Alhaji Abubakar had said he was in the state to seek the support and collaboaration of the state government to enable the police effectively fight crime in the country, and assess and re-evaluate the security situation in the state, commending the Rivers State Government in assisting the police in the provision of operation equipment such as patrol van and other logistics.

Abubakar noted that Rivers State is the centre of commercial activities in the South-South, and therefore, its economics and infrastructural development, safety and security  is very important and should be given priority so that economic development will continue to strive.

The IGP, however, urged the state government to do more to enable the police perform better.