Presidential Intervention: Ikeja Police College Wears New Look

Few months ago, Nigerians woke up to receive with shock and disbelief, news of the decrepit level of decay at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos coupled with its deplorable state. The college located on Oba Akinjobi way, close to Arch Bishop V inning Cathedral never gave any passer-by the slightest inkling of its real state, until it was revealed by a television station in January, 2013.

The documentary by the television station captured the odious condition under which men and women were trained as policemen. This revelation was so shocking for a reputable institution that graduates policemen every year to degenerate into such deplorable state.

From the startling revelations, it was observed that the toilets, bathrooms, dormitories were so bad that the trainees resorted to urinating at the back of the buildings, thereby emitting acrid stench which is dangerous to their health. This resulted in the insurgence of mosquitoes which gain entrance unhindered into the dormitories through the damaged windows and doors.
In addition to this sorry state, was the college’s once Olympic-size swimming pool which became a breeding point for toads and other reptiles. The list of the deplorable state is endless, with the trainees forced to adapt to the condition without any choice.

But the good news today, is that the college is currently wearing a new look, as a result of its renovation which was at the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan. The president who paid an unscheduled visit to ascertain the level of the unspeakable rot in the college as reported, was shocked to his wits and immediately issued a four-month ultimatum to the Nigerian Army Corps Engineers, to carry out total renovation of the dilapidated buildings and infrastructures in the College.

During an inspection of the college last Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye and the Inspector-General of Police, MD Abubakar, the Commander, Army Corps Engineer, Major General Funso Owonibi disclosed that the renovation work was 95% completed, revealing that work would be completed and handed over to the Police, in two weeks.

Explaining further he said, “ We got a marching order to move in here to rehabilitate the affected buildings, 35 in all, and we mobilized immediately. Specifically from 8th of February, we started mobilization and after that, we started demolition and the end result is what you are seeing today.


As at the time we came, the buildings were in a very terrible state. Channels Television revealed the state to the whole world. But today you can see the level of transformation. We were given four months duration. We still have about one month to go. But in two weeks time, when we shall be handing over to the Police, we will still have two weeks left to the ultimatum. The job is more than 95 % completed. The final work has been completed but all that is left is the second round of coating and the additional work we are doing is what will keep us till that two weeks. For instance, we are doing land scalping.”

He, however, clarified that only one building was pulled down while renovation work was carried on others. Areas renovated, according to him, included the toilets, bathrooms, residential units, cafeteria, dormitories amongst others. The hostels, according to him, were fitted with fans, louvres changed to slid windows and roofs replaced.

“ There was a building that has structural defect and a new one was built. Furniture items like beds and wardrobes were built for trainees. We fixed 2000 beds. But we exceeded the initial specification where we felt it was appropriate. We sank five boreholes and rehabilitated three, “ Owonibi said.

Expressing satisfaction at the job he described as’ well done’, Special Adviser to the President on Performance,Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye, explained that the purpose of his visit was to inspect the level of work done so far. “ The President visited here on 13 of January,when it was in a terrible state and he committed to fixing it. What is interesting is not just that he has fixed it but the speed with which he has fixed it. What we have done is to explore our internal resources using the expertise of the Nigerian Army Corps Engineers and they have demonstrated their capacity without any doubt. So, we are very excited about that.

“I feel good because if you go right inside the hall, you will see the pictures before and the pictures after. And if you are a Nigerian, you can’t but feel good. Something very fundamental has happened, as this is the first time in over 30years that this place is getting a face lift. This shows that the president’s transformation agenda is working,”Prof Monye stated.

Lamenting the poor maintenance culture of Nigerians, he however assured that funds would be made available annually for the maintenance of the college, with a view to preventing it from returning to its former state. Although he admitted that the college might not be like those obtained in the western world he expressed optimism that with the current measure taken by the president, it would reach the standard.

“ We have opportunity to kit it to the standard you are thinking of. But the question now, is, is it habitable? Is it in a condition that you as a Nigerian will be comfortable with? The answer is yes”.

Corroborating his view, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, expressed appreciation to the president for his support, saying, “ we appreciate the President for the prompt action and attention given to the Police College and also thank the Nigerian Army Corps engineers for this work, speed and show of profes-sionalism. This is a demonstration of the level of concern and patriotism the president has for the Nigeria Police Force.”

Source:www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/presidential-intervention-ikeja-police-college-wears-new-look/

Good job CHANNELS TELEVISION...this how journalism should be..the TRUTH with no BLACKMAILS...
Good job Presidency...Good Job army Corp of engineers...
Police make una maintain this facilities well ooo..since money for maintainance has been provided...

Old wine inside new bottle. Whatever happened to the folks behind the rot and embezzlement.

Something very fundamental has happened, as this is the first time
in over 30years that this place is getting a face lift. This
shows that the president’s transformation agenda is
working,”Prof Monye stated.

Where was the transformation agenda before Channels blow alarm?



Yeye people... lmao

awodman: Good job CHANNELS TELEVISION...this how journalism should be..the TRUTH with no BLACKMAILS...
Good job Presidency...Good Job army Corp of engineers...
Police make una maintain this facilities well ooo..since money for maintainance has been provided...

I really do respect those guys...

Eko Ile: Old wine inside new bottle. Whatever happened to the folks behind the rot and embezzlement.







Where was the transformation agenda before Channels blow alarm?



Yeye people... lmao

Oga what was shown by CHANNELS is a ROT that has accumulated for several years..the president cannot be everywhere at the same time...so that is why we need likes of CHANNELS and other media houses to EXPOSE THIS ROT which has been going on for DECADES..so that CORRECTIVE actions like this can be taken

Nice one. This goes to show that if we have good press that does investigative journalism it might go a long way to help us in our development

awodman:
Oga what was shown by CHANNELS is a ROT that has accumulated for several years..the president cannot be everywhere at the same time...so that is why we need likes of CHANNELS and other media houses to EXPOSE THIS ROT which has been going on for DECADES..so that CORRECTIVE actions like this can be taken

I'm with you regarding Channels and the great investigative journalism that corrected this rot, but what about accountability? Instead of seeking accountability on behalf of the men that suffered for decades within the walls of the police colleges all over the country and the people of Nigeria?

Instead of accountability, GEJ gave Onovo a National Award and disgraced and indicted Okiro another high profile federal position, the current IG is still on the job.


It's still BS and the people of Nigeria are the losers, in fact, double losers because they lost the embezzled funds for good and they are footing the bills for this maintenance..

Primitive architecture again... I tire for this country o

Hurray!!

Anoda promise kept. Kudos GEJ...

Glad they were able to do something about the deplorable situation in the academy

Good step in the right direction

We need more pics, abeg!

Are they still using those dirty showers??

sheyie2007: Primitive architecture again... I tire for this country o

Yea..in as much as the architecture might not be up to what is obtainable in Europe..remember this is a rehabilitation work..the spokesman of the army engineers summed it up this way..

“ We have opportunity to kit it to the standard you are
thinking of. But the question now, is, is it habitable? Is it
in a condition that you as a Nigerian will be comfortable
with? The answer is yes”.

GAR3TH: As good as this news is its doesn't solve any of the real problems that the police college has.

You can continue to paint the buildings with a new coat of paint, replace the roofs and plant flowers but who is to say in one year we will be back to were we were before, with another degraded police college.

The main problem with the college was not the infrastructure but rather the incompetent college administration leaders who were suppose to keep the college from degrading and failed.

Why are they all still in their positions after failing to live up to their responsibilities. Renovation of the college is good and I appreciate it but I do not like that the people who caused this did not get charged or fired.

Only in Nigeria will a gun be charged with murder while the killer walks away free.

I agree with you that those that caused this rot should be punished..but its unfair to rest the blame squarely on the current crop of management in the college..remember this a rot that has existed for decades...

This goes to show how gradually things are picking up in this country. Investigative journalism and purposeful leadership is the key. Thumps up for GEJ. Railways are gradually coming back. Federal roads receiving serious attention. Fiscal policy tightens. But war on corruption should be toughen too. There is nothing primitive about this structure. It is a camp.

GAR3TH: As good as this news is its doesn't solve any of the real problems that the police college has.

You can continue to paint the buildings with a new coat of paint, replace the roofs and plant flowers but who is to say in one year we will be back to were we were before, with another degraded police college.

The main problem with the college was not the infrastructure but rather the incompetent college administration leaders who were suppose to keep the college from degrading and failed.

Why are they all still in their positions after failing to live up to their responsibilities. Renovation of the college is good and I appreciate it but I do not like that the people who caused this did not get charged or fired.

Only in Nigeria will a gun be charged with murder while the killer walks away free.

Very deep and insightful.the same rot is what we can all see in every sectors of Nigeria.why should those in authority wait for people to suffer and die before their attention is drawn to issues affecting the ordinary citizens ? People have to die on roads before rehabilitation,die from lack of potable water,die from insecurity etc.

There are fundamental issues affecting the police which border on corruption,embezzlement,lack of maintenance,contract inflation and so many but in a larger picture,you just have to admit that the police are products of a country which the same problems affecting them is the norm.

Trust me by the time you go back to this school in a couple of years,it's back to the same ol'shiit due to lack of maintenance and possible embezzlement of money which will be budgeted for maintenance.

Nigeria needs overhauling !

There are some people who will never be objective on issues in their lifetime. Even if GEJ turns Nigeria to paradise, if he fixes all possile problems in Nigeria, their blood will still heat up because its not done by Fas-hole- or done by Tinubu. We know them, but they are dieing inside of blood pressure and hypertension because of GEJ.

simply_me: There are some people who will never be objective on issues in their lifetime. Even if GEJ turns Nigeria to paradise, if he fixes all possile problems in Nigeria, their blood will still heat up because its not done by Fas-hole- or done by Tinubu. We know them, but they are dieing inside of blood pressure and hypertension because of GEJ.

Well said! They are the die hard haters and hypocrites! We know them and they don't disappoint. @Topic. Nice one Mr President!

The ROT makers are still in control give it another 2 yrs and you will be back to the same or even worse situation. Get rid of the rotten eggs and you will have a pleasant breakfast

2015 strategies, all na wash!

Eko Ile: Old wine inside new bottle. Whatever happened to the folks behind the rot and embezzlement.







Where was the transformation agenda before Channels blow alarm?



Yeye people... lmao

Why are you this difficult as a person, I hope you are not a psychopath? It's not compulsory you must talk please

Jonathan is looking after Yorubas. see now, Ooduduwa Republic police station is looking good. Yorubas should be grateful.

tomakint:
Why are you this difficult as a person, I hope you are not a psychopath? It's not compulsory you must talk please

Its baffling how frustrated some people can be. I think he needs help.

This is lovely and highly commendable.

Kudos to Channels TV for exposing this rot , big kudos to team GEJ for responding appropriately.

##Freshair evrywia U go!!

Make una beg MoDs to put this on the front page

killuminati: 2015 strategies, all na wash!

Ofcourse everything GEJ has to be about 2015, no wonder your paymaster Tinubu and his Association of Convicted Nicompoops saw the declaration of SOE in that light.
Very shameful.

nig2change: This goes to show how gradually things are picking up in this country. Investigative journalism and purposeful leadership is the key. Thumps up for GEJ. Railways are gradually coming back. Federal roads receiving serious attention. Fiscal policy tightens. But war on corruption should be toughen too. There is nothing primitive about this structure. It is a camp.

Yap!!

Our problem in Nigeria is not about construction of facilities,state of the art facilities,our problem is maintainance of this facilities,lets watch and see if in 10 years to come the building s and facilities will be well maintained.

awodman:
I agree with you that those that caused this rot should be punished..but its unfair to rest the blame squarely on the current crop of management in the college..remember this a rot that has existed for decades...

if people aren't punished for their actions thing wont change in Nigeria!