President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday surprised the authorities of the Lagos State Police Command when he paid an unscheduled visit to the Police College, Ikeja. With the President were the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Mr. Mamaah Tsafe; the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Umar Manko and other military and air force officers. Jonathan, who arrived at the college premises at about 3 pm, immediately proceeded on an inspection tour of the hostels, college kitchen, dining hall and the Officers’ Mess. For the college authorities, the visit was nothing short of an embarrassment as the commandant of the college, CP I.F. Yerima was unable to tell the President how and when Channels TV filmed the decay in the college. In an attempt to salvage the situation, Yerima had turned to his deputy and other senior officers of the college for assistance but all kept mute.

Enraged, Jonathan declared the documentary by the TV station a smear campaign. He said, “This is a calculated attempt to damage the image of this government. The Police College, Ikeja is not the only training institution in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, a crowd of recruits, who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the President, hailed him repeatedly for his visit. They said, “Our number one President, the God sent President, the President of Nigeria, among others.” Jonathan acknowledged the cheers by raising his right hand. However, a senior police officer of the college told Saturday PUNCH on the condition of anonymity that the decay in the college began more than a decade ago.


http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-pays-surprise-visit-to-ikeja-police-college/


To me, I see as the most careless statement I have ever heard from him in recent times, afterall the picture attached to the news shows that the report is true.

So is that the only statement he made during the entire period he was there.
Una no go tire?
If he didn't go there you would cry insensitivity.
I'm sure the complete statement was that this is not the only training institution, whatever would be done here would also be replicated in other institutions

This report by Punch is most likely false, mischievous, fallacious and ridiculous.

Punch is a WELL KNOWN opposition news media organisation. As I post this comment, I'm watching Channelstv Sunrise programme. One of the presenter (the male) confirmed that he was there live and commended the president for coming, though he said if not for the Channelstv exposee, the president wouldn't have come.

Most importantly, the Channelstv owner, John Momoh, was there live and accompanied Mr president all thru. Mr president couldn't have allowed him to accompany the team if he saw something wrong in what Channelstv had done.

The Channelstv that started all this reported Mr president's visit very well and nothing of such was contained in any of their report. Channelstv has been beating its chest since yesterday for triggering what led to Mr president visiting the police college.


I must also add that if indeed Mr president said those things in the same context as Punch and Nations (another ACN media house) reported, then Mr president erred in my opinion. No effort must be spared at exposing any rot ANYWHERE in the system, provided security of the nation will not be breached. Everyone must be held accountable.

The reality is that there's so much incompetence and nonchallance in the public sector. Most times even the SIMPLEST of things (as little as dusting of ones table or cutting of grass) are left undone because of govt property mentality.

Whatever, is the case, the police college will not remain the same again.

Everything na propaganda, smh

Anybody that speaks the truth is an opposition tools, well very soon we will all become the opposition

Sincere 9gerian: This report by Punch is obviously false, mischievous, fallacious and ridiculous.

Punch is a WELL KNOWN opposition news media organisation. As I post this comment, I'm watching Channelstv Sunrise programme. One of the presenter (the male) confirmed that he was there live and commended the president for coming, though he said if not for the Channelstv exposee, the president wouldn't have come.

Most importantly, the Channelstv owner, John Momoh, was there live and accompanied Mr president all thru. Mr president couldn't have allowed him to accompany the team if he saw something wrong in what Channelstv had done.

The Channelstv that started all this reported Mr president's visit very well and nothing of such was contained in any of their report. Channelstv has been beating its chest since yesterday for triggering what led to Mr president visiting the police college.

How come only Punch heard this comment?

This report by Punch is false, wicked and unfortunate.

Wud u critics always remain utterly stu.pid.... Sm of u DISGUST me. Gosh!! If the president wantd to complain about d access of d Police college, there wud hv bn no need to visit d place at all as he wud just hv done whateva he wantd to do at Abuja..

Paid critics must work for their money na. Even what he didnt say, they will ascribe it to him so they can earn their pay.

grafikii: Anybody that speaks the truth is an opposition tools, well very soon we will all become the opposition

what is your definition of truth?

OP. It is his comment you are concerned about, not the fact that he went there to see things for himself. mtcheeww.

THIS DAY REPORT

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday paid a surprise visit to the Police College in Ikeja, Lagos, in a move presidency sources say was meant to pre-empt the whitewash that usually precedes the visit of top government officials to agencies.

But the grim situation the president glimpsed through his visit is said to be causing unease for police chiefs who fear there may be some harsh consequences particularly given that they had been totally kept in the dark over the unscheduled visit.

The president who was heading to Cote d'Ivoire for an Extraordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government was said to have surprised his aides with the news that he would be visiting the Police College, Ikeja, after a stop in Lagos in order to get a first hand assessment of infrastructure at the college.

THISDAY learnt his visit was spawned by a documentary aired by Channels Television that highlighted the deplorable state of facilities at the college built 73 years ago by the colonial government.

Jonathan's determination to get an unvarnished picture of the college's state of affairs was underscored by the fact that he apparently kept the Inspector-General ofPolice, Mohammed Abubakar and the minister of police affairs, Caleb Olubolade, in the dark about his mission.

Neither the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Umar Manko, nor the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 which covers Lagos and Ogun states, Alhaji Mamman Tsafe, had a prior knowledgeof the president's visit. The only top-ranking police personnel that witnessed thepresident's visit was the commandant of the college, Mr Irimiya Yerima.

Presidential spokesman, Mr. Reuben Abati, hinted at the discreetness of the visit in his response to journalists' enquiries. He said: " We just left the police college. It was a surprise visit. We stopped over on our way to Cote d'Ivoire."

Abati told THISDAY that Jonathan was "visibly angry by the squalid condition he saw at the condition".
He said the president visited the hostels and classrooms and toured the premises of the college overgrown with weeds. "The president asked the commandant several questions to which he had no response. He asked him why the grass could not be cut even if the college does not receive sufficient fund. He also asked him if it's the practice for students to eat their meals in buckets as shown in the Channels' documentary," Abati said

There was, however, a mild drama at the college's field when hosts of a private wedding reception hurriedly dismantled canopies they had installed on sighting the president. At another end of the field, a party was in full swing.

Police sources say the visit which the president called a"fact-finding mission" was the first by a president since the college was built and thatit would enable him addresscertain issues hampering thequalitative training of policemen in Nigeria's oldest police college.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/police-chiefs-uneasy-as-jonathan-pays-surprise-visit-to-training-college/136865/

THE NATIONS ONLINE REPORT

The police authorities were in shock last night after an angry President Goodluck Jonathan stormed out of the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos during an unexpected visit to personally assess the rot at the college.

The President’s visit was provoked by a weeklong expose by the Lagos –based Channels Television on the dehumanising conditions trainee policemen go through in the college.

President Jonathan, who was on his way to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire for a meeting of ECOWAS leaders on the insurgency in Mali, was as embarrassed by what he saw as the inability of the Commandant of the institution, Police Commissioner I.F.Yerima, to answer any of the four questions he asked the police officer.

The President and his entourage, including the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone Two, Mamman Tsafe, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, drove into the college at about 3pm and parked in front of the Sports Store.

From there,he walked to the hostels. He also inspected the women’s hostels,the kitchen, the dining halls facing the parade field and the officers’ mess.

Security was tight with armed soldiers and policemen deployed in strategic places in the college.
As he left the mess to enter his car, he suddenly paused and faced CP Yerima to ask him a few questions.

By now, a crowd had gathered struggling to see the President and were at the same time hailing him.

He waved to them to acknowledge their greetings.

Then came the first question for the College Commandant:

How was Channels TV able to penetrate and record the mess without detection?

The CP had no answer.

The second question followed:

When was the recording done.

Again there was no answer.

The Commandant turned to his deputy and other senior officers to assist him in answering the

President’s questions, but none was able to help him out.

The President then quipped:“This is a calculated attempt to damage the image of the government, as the college is not the only training institution in the country.”

He soon entered his car and left. After the President’s departure, the college Commandant met briefly with his officers before he too took his leave.

Senior officers later gathered in groups to review the visit.

Some of policemen in the college who pleaded for anonymity were happy at the President’s visit which they said would help in reversing the fortunes of the college.

They called for the probe of the trainees’ welfare in the last five years.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/jonathans-surprise-visit-rattles-ikeja-police-college-commandant/

With your own version now(abati version), are you now saying jona didn't made those statement?

TRIBUNE

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Friday paid an unscheduled visit to the Ikeja Police College and was confounded with the dilapidated facilities at the college.

The visit by the president, not only caught authorities of the college unawares but also threw the police high authority in Abuja into panic.

The visit was described as a “fact-finding mission” which, according to a presidency source was to assess the state of facilities on ground at the police training school.

The president was on his way to Ivory Coast when he decided to have a look at the state of facilities at the college.

Saturday Tribune gathered that the president, on entering the college, was confronted by a crowd of people who were attending a wedding ceremony atthe college.

The president reportedly frowned at the staging of social functions in such an environment and described it as illegal.

President Jonathan also walked round the college and looked at the facilities, which have over the years been neglected.

http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/3405-jonathan-expresses-shock-at-state-of-police-college

THE GUARDIAN

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday paid a surprise visit to the Nigeria Police College in Ikeja,Lagos on his way to Cote d’ Ivoirefor an ECOWAS meeting.

Sources said even his top aides had no prior inkling of the unscheduled stop over.

The visit, said to be “a fact finding inspection” by a police source, was intended to enable the President address certain issues hampering the qualitative training of policemen.

But many observes believe it was in reaction to a recently documentary on the dilapidated state of infrastructure and challenges facing trainees in the foremost Police training institution in the country by Channels television.

Not even the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Umar Manko, or the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2 Command, Alhaji Mamman Tsafe, was notified of the visit.
But presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, told The Guardian that the visit was a surprise and brief.

“We just left the college. It was a surprise visit. We are on our way to Cote d’ Ivoire,” he explained.

A source at the College told The Guardian that they had never seen such a surprise visit by a sitting President since the institution was established.

According to the source: “It was like a dream the way the President came in with his entourage.

“He did not spend time at all; he just moved round the school briefly and left.”

Both Tsafe and Manko declined comment on the visit, directing The Guardian to the Police High Command in Abuja.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=110895%3Ajonathan-pays-surprise-visit-to-lagos-police-college&Itemid=425

Its normal to question the veracity of this information but since the president has a media crew that accompanies him including journalists from media houses perceived to be critics of the government, it is possible he made the statement and some chose to disseminate it while those in the good books of government ignored it.

take dat: it is possible he made the statement and some chose to disseminate it while those in the good books of government ignored it.

Supported . . .

Is only the opposition newspaper that were not even on ground when the presido was at the college even channels tv did not report this stupid lies by the opposition una go soon commit suicide for jona matter

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/01/18/jonathan-visits-police-college/

DAILY INDEPENDENT

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday paid an unscheduled visit to the Ikeja Police College in Lagos, and labeled the place a poultry farm.

Jonathan also said he was shocked at the pathetic state of facilities in the oldest police training institution in the country despite huge funds allocated through past leadership of the Nigeria Police Force for rehabilitation of colleges across the country.

Jonathan, according to a competent Presidency source, was on his way to an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meeting in Cote d’Ivoire,but decided to stop over in Lagos,where he made a surprise visit to the Police College in Ikeja.

The source said even the President’s top aides were taken unawares by the unscheduled stop over, breaching every security protocol.

The police authorities were also caught unawares and had in fact rented the college’s parade ground to host a private wedding– an illegal act.

Jonathan demanded police top brass on ground to explain the development but they had no sufficient answers.

The President, it was gathered, did not waste time but commenced an inspection tour of the college, starting with the student hostels where he discovered a very horrible condition of living pervading the entire place.

He, according to the source, entered all the windowless hostels and toilets and in the process allegedly described the police past management as heartless and insensitive.

He also asked what happened to the N2 billion 2002 Educational Trust Funds (ETF) released for the renovation of all police colleges in the country.

It was gathered that the police has also called for immediate probe to unravel what happened to all the money government has released for rehabilitation of all police colleges and institution across the country.

The President, it was gathered, arrived the college at about 3.45pm in a metallic black Peugeot 607 saloon car and was led in the motorcade by the Chief of Defense Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim, who rode in a metallic ash saloon car.

Our correspondent who was at the college learnt that the President was already at Ikeja round-about, before the police leadership at the college and other security agencies in the state had an idea of who was visiting the premier police training institution.

A senior police officer at the college told our correspondent that the guard of honour horridly arranged for the President was not given recognition as “the President’s convoy just drove pastthe guard which was mounted very close to the gate of the PoliceCollege.

“The man shocked everybody; nobody knew that it was the President when the convoy first entered the college because even the party at the open ground was still on with guests dancing. It was later when we saw police blocking everywhere and asking us to stop the music that we weretold Mr.

President was around the college,” the source added.
The unscheduled visit by the President is likely going to shake the police. In fact past management of the Force are likely to be called for questioning on the issue of application of funds.

President Jonathan left the college to the airport on his way to Cote d’Ivoire at about 4.15pm without the usual blast of siren.

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/01/ikeja-police-college-a-poultry-farm-jonathan/

anoda member posted more photos

https://www.nairaland.com/1167921/photos-president-jonathan-visits-dilapidated

Sincere 9gerian, Hope you will believe this version

President Goodluck Jonathan was on his way a meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Cote d’Ivoire today when his plane was diverted to Lagos for his ‘surprise’ visit to the Police College in Ikeja, the State capital.
Sources say that even his top aides were unaware of the unscheduled stop, but SaharaReporters later learned that the owner of Channels TV, Mr. John Momoh, was somehow on hand to cover the visit, suggesting it may have been a scheduled public relations stunt between Jonathan’s people and Mr. Momoh’s Channels.
The authorities of the Police College were also caught unawares. They had in fact rented the college to host a private wedding, which is illegal, although illegality is not necessarily a crime in the current administration, where they routinely go unaddressed.
Still President Jonathan demanded that the top brass explain their action, to which they had no real answers. Jonathan was also concerned about the filming of his ‘surprise’ visit by Channels TV, and demanded to know who had given them permission. He wondered if the filming was done to embarrass the government.
The President undertook an inspection of the college, discovering in the student hostels dilapidated conditions and a lack of beds, mattresses and functioning toilets.
During the inspection the President commented on the TV clips that earlier aired in documentary aired on Lagos-based Channels TV. He stated, “Of all the TV clips, the most offensive was the one showing police cadets eating like poultry fowls.”
Strangely, the commandant of the Police College, Commissioner of Police Irimiya Yerima, boldly told President Jonathan that the Lagos police college was far better than the one in Kaduna. It was not clear if Mr. Jonathan would pick up the implied challenge.

From sahara

President Goodluck Jonathan was on his way a meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Cote d’Ivoire today when his plane was diverted to Lagos for his ‘surprise’visit to the Police College in Ikeja, the State capital.

Sources say that even his top aides were unaware of the unscheduled stop, but SaharaReporters later learned that the owner of Channels TV, Mr. John Momoh, was somehow on hand to cover the visit, suggesting it may have been a scheduled public relations stunt between Jonathan’s people and Mr. Momoh’s Channels.

The authorities of the Police College were also caught unawares.
They had in fact rented the college to host a private wedding, which is illegal, although illegality is not necessarily a crime in the current administration, where they routinely go unaddressed.

Still President Jonathan demanded that the top brass explain their action, to which they had no real answers.

Jonathan was also concerned about the filming of his ‘surprise’ visit by Channels TV, and demanded to know who had given them permission. He wondered if the filming was done to embarrass the government.

The President undertook an inspection of the college, discovering in the student hostels dilapidated conditions and a lack of beds, mattresses and functioning toilets.

During the inspection the President commented on the TV clips that earlier aired in documentary aired on Lagos-based Channels TV. He stated, “Of all the TV clips, the most offensive was the one showing police cadets eating like poultry fowls.”

Strangely, the commandant of the Police College, Commissioner of Police Irimiya Yerima, boldly told President Jonathan that the Lagos police college was far better than the one in Kaduna. It was not clear if Mr. Jonathan would pick up the implied challenge.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/president-jonathan-police-college-ikeja-sees-abysmal-living-conditions-cadets

fkaz: Sincere 9gerian, Hope you will believe this version

President Goodluck Jonathan was on his way a meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Cote d’Ivoire today when his plane was diverted to Lagos for his ‘surprise’ visit to the Police College in Ikeja, the State capital.
Sources say that even his top aides were unaware of the unscheduled stop, but SaharaReporters later learned that the owner of Channels TV, Mr. John Momoh, was somehow on hand to cover the visit, suggesting it may have been a scheduled public relations stunt between Jonathan’s people and Mr. Momoh’s Channels.
The authorities of the Police College were also caught unawares. They had in fact rented the college to host a private wedding, which is illegal, although illegality is not necessarily a crime in the current administration, where they routinely go unaddressed.
Still President Jonathan demanded that the top brass explain their action, to which they had no real answers. Jonathan was also concerned about the filming of his ‘surprise’ visit by Channels TV, and demanded to know who had given them permission. He wondered if the filming was done to embarrass the government.
The President undertook an inspection of the college, discovering in the student hostels dilapidated conditions and a lack of beds, mattresses and functioning toilets.
During the inspection the President commented on the TV clips that earlier aired in documentary aired on Lagos-based Channels TV. He stated, “Of all the TV clips, the most offensive was the one showing police cadets eating like poultry fowls.”
Strangely, the commandant of the Police College, Commissioner of Police Irimiya Yerima, boldly told President Jonathan that the Lagos police college was far better than the one in Kaduna. It was not clear if Mr. Jonathan would pick up the implied challenge.

From sahara

another paid opposition news outlet !can u see the similarity between sahara,punch, and the nation report they are the only newsnetwork that reported the beer palour gist.very funny bunch even channels that were on ground when GEJ came calling didn't report it na wah it most be hard times for this news agencies but the truth would alway over shadow lies that is what they don't knw

I took some time to provide different version of the president's visit to bring to the fore the obvious MISCHIEF, contradictions and political undertone of the report by the DIE-HARD enemies of Mr president- Punch, Nations and SR.

Even SR contradicted it self in its own report:

"but SaharaReporters later learned that the owner of Channels TV, Mr. John Momoh, was somehow on hand to cover the visit, suggesting it may have been a scheduled public relations stunt between Jonathan’s people and Mr. Momoh’s Channels.....Jonathan was also concerned about the filming of his ‘surprise’ visit by Channels TV, and demanded to know who had given them permission. He wondered if the filming was done to embarrass the government"- Sahara Reporters

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/president-jonathan-police-college-ikeja-sees-abysmal-living-conditions-cadets

I rest my case!

Did you say inspite of what we are seeing , Lagos is better than Kaduna?
Heavens save us

The Pro-GEJ's should stop attacking media houses who critique government actions as opposition, its just like saying ThisDay and Tribune are government sponsored propaganda media houses. Its your choice to believe any news you want to but don't smear others because they report news unpleasant to you!

Sincere 9gerian: Strangely, the commandant of the Police College, Commissioner of Police Irimiya Yerima, boldly told President Jonathan that the Lagos police college was far better than the one in Kaduna. It was not clear if Mr. Jonathan would pick up the implied challenge.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/president-jonathan-police-college-ikeja-sees-abysmal-living-conditions-cadets

You're not fùcking kidding me.

take dat: Its normal to question the veracity of this information but since the president has a media crew that accompanies him including journalists from media houses perceived to be critics of the government, it is possible he made the statement and some chose to disseminate it while those in the good books of government ignored it.

Well, you may be right there; i see d possibility now. But i fail to see d overall significance of any oda questn he wud hv askd even IF it is true..

Why dis people dey lie!!!!!! If anyone hav abused (or stone him purewater) would dey hav announced it?

It shows the president lacks idea of what good governance should be.

Sincere 9gerian: This report by Punch is most likely false, mischievous, fallacious and ridiculous.

Punch is a WELL KNOWN opposition news media organisation. As I post this comment, I'm watching Channelstv Sunrise programme. One of the presenter (the male) confirmed that he was there live and commended the president for coming, though he said if not for the Channelstv exposee, the president wouldn't have come.

Most importantly, the Channelstv owner, John Momoh, was there live and accompanied Mr president all thru. Mr president couldn't have allowed him to accompany the team if he saw something wrong in what Channelstv had done.

The Channelstv that started all this reported Mr president's visit very well and nothing of such was contained in any of their report. Channelstv has been beating its chest since yesterday for triggering what led to Mr president visiting the police college.


I must also add that if indeed Mr president said those things in the same context as Punch and Nations (another ACN media house) reported, then Mr president erred in my opinion. No effort must be spared at exposing any rot ANYWHERE in the system, provided security of the nation will not be breached. Everyone must be held accountable.

The reality is that there's so much incompetence and nonchallance in the public sector. Most times even the SIMPLEST of things (as little as dusting of ones table or cutting of grass) are left undone because of govt property mentality.

Whatever, is the case, the police college will not remain the same again.

Shut up how many punch news paper u don buy. U even get light for ur house take watch news. Mtcheeew eye service, and u sure say dat ur I beta pass my neigbor gen neva blow ur tv. Pocupine

Yomieluv: It shows the president lacks idea of what good governance should be.

Ur papa don become president before? Dis one wen u get the full knowledge of good governance