Nation
FG Pledges Support As Police Begin Training Of Investigators
The Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammad Dingyadi, has pledged his ministry’s continued support for the training of Nigerian police personnel.
Dingyadi made the pledge, yesterday, in Abuja at the opening of a training programme for criminal investigators organised by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Temitope Peters, the minister lauded the IGP for his commitment to the capacity development of his personnel.
He said the training was timely, considering the need and efforts by the Federal Government and other stakeholders to reform the Nigerian Police.
According to him, the police reform will include introduction of technology and other equipment that will enhance the efficiency of the service delivery of police personnel.
Dingyadi said the reform would also include the improvement of the welfare of police personnel to boost their morale.
While noting that the ministry was doing its best to improve on the professionalism and ethical conduct of its personnel, the minister urged the police to embrace community policing.
The IGP, Mr Mohammed Adamu, said the training was a reflection of his conviction that the capacity of human asset of any organisation was fundamental to the attainment of its goals.
Adamu, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector-General in discharge of Force Intelligent Unit, Ibrahim Lamorde, said capacity development was more critical to a law enforcement and investigative agency such as the police.
According to him, the rapidly changing dynamics of crime and the attendant increasing threat to national security required quality police investigators.
He said such investigators must have the requisite professional knowledge, experience, self confidence and competence to undertake complex investigative tasks.
Adamu called on the participants to take advantage of the training programme to acquire requisite knowledge that would be proudly applied to make a difference in the field of investigation.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, Rep. Usman Kumo, said that the training was timely “considering what is happening in the country now.”
He said the IGP Monitoring Unit, saddled with the responsibility of checkmating the activities of other police officers, should see this as a clarion call to continue on the path of justice.
Kumo assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would not relent in equipping the force to ease the country’s security challenges.
“The IGP Monitoring Unit in the past has shown that competence; I urge you to continue in that path to have a good scorecard to ensure that Nigeria is insecurity free,” the lawmaker said.
On his part, Assistant Commissioner of Police, who is the Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Adamu Elleman, said that under his watch the unit had been able to build on the achievements of the Force’s “ZERO tolerance for corruption’’.
He said the unit would stop the extortion of money from motorists on public highways by police officers on crimes control, road block and illegal detention of suspects.
He said that policemen were put under constant check as a reminder that they were not allowed to misbehave.
“However, because of the need for technology driven investigation towards achieving a high level of performance, the unit is collaborating with requisite bodies from different fields to train the officers by providing them with needed approach for modern policing,” he said.
The training on “Ethical Practices in Policing and Criminal Investigation’’ was organised for criminal investigators.
An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre is set to be established in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The initiative is being championed by the Omoku People’s Forum, a global association of Omoku elites, under the leadership of its President-General, Dr. George Ada Ubah.
As part of efforts to ensure the successful execution of the project, a prominent son of Omoku, Chief (Barr.) Dennis Masi, has been appointed by the Forum as the Chairman of the ICT Centre Project Committee, entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating and driving the initiative to fruition. Upon completion, the ICT Centre is expected to serve as a major hub for the training and empowerment of youths in digital and technological skills, equipping them to actively participate in the increasingly technology-driven global environment.
The project is also widely regarded as a significant step towards positioning Omoku as an emerging ICT hub within Rivers State, fostering innovation, digital literacy, and economic development in the region.
Concerned Rivers Chiefs For Peace And Development has said it formation was not politically motivated or has any links to political parties or candidates.
The group which said this at a media briefing at Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area said it’s formation has nothing to do with politics.
According to the text for the briefing jointly signed by Chief Boma Kele Oyika it’s chairman and Chief Inemo T Ikama Deputy Secretary General said the organization is expected to focus on conflict Resolution, community engagement, collaboration with government and private sector actors
‘it mandate also includes promoting peace building initiative, supporting local economic empowerment programms and strengthening traditional institutions in our state and beyond as partners in governance ”
It said the body is led by a team of respected traditional leaders serving as trustees
“Their collective leadership reflects a blend of experience cultural authority and grassroots connection
“Key elements considered vital for addressing long standing,socio economic and security challenges in the region”
The release further says ” the formation of this organization comes at a time when communities in Rivers state continue to navigate between issues ranging from youth unemployment, environmental concerns and intermittent conflicts amongst the traditional rulers and beyond
“By bringing together influential traditional figures under a unified platform, the group aims at serving as stabilizing force while advocating for inclusive development policies ” it said
It also described its emergence as a new chapter in grass roots leadership and regional development
Earlier, chairman of the body, Chief Boma Kele Oyika said the organization will work with relevant authorities to promote peaceful coexistence in the state, reduce crime and promote economic development.
He said it is open to all Chiefs from the 23 local government areas.
The Chairman of The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture NDCCTMA,Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) Dr Samuel Ogbuku have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Demostic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The two leaders spoke at a business round table organized by NDDCTMA in Port Harcourt
Chairman of NDDCTMA Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase “he said
Ogan said the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where
“That is why we are gathered here in this room “he said.
Also speaking Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC) Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city,we have gone to Lagos,we have moved our families to Abuja and Lagos
“If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
He said time has come for potential investors from the region to have a change of heart by coming home to invest.
John Bibor