President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday took a look
at the various security challenges facing the country
and returned a verdict: Nigeria is passing through a
trying moment.
"This is quite a trying moment for this country in
terms of security. A number of our police officers
have lost their lives while serving their fatherland.
We have challenges from the South to the North and
from the East to the West. We sleep but some people
will keep awake and these are the security
personnel," he said.
Jonathan spoke at the grand finale of the 2013 Police
Week Celebrations at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
The event, which featured a ceremonial parade by
policemen and the inauguration of police
equipment, including seven helicopters, 10
Armoured Personnel Carriers and 275 patrol vans,
was attended by top government officials and
security experts.
The President, who called for a minute silence in
honour of security agents who have lost their lives in
the process of securing the people, regretted that no
part of the country was spared in the security
challenges.
While condoling with the families of security
personnel who died in the various attacks Jonathan
assured them that the Federal Government would
never abandon them.
He said in his quest to tackle the security challenges
headlong, his vision was to ensure that all the 36
state police commands and that of the Federal
Capital Territory had helicopters for effective
aerial surveillance.
Jonathan said, "The police must be well equipped
and kitted to protect us while on land, water and air.
You can see the helicopters that will be inaugurated
and my commitment is that every state command
must have a helicopter.
"That was why we set up a special fund because the
idea that armed robbers will take over a state and be
operating for hours without any challenge must be
a thing of the past. That is why we must invest in air
power for the Nigeria police."
He promised that his administration would create a
more friendly police force that would be united with
the community through a shared sense of
responsibility and partnership.
This, the President said, was possible if all
stakeholders such as the government, the citizens,
the police leadership, officers and men worked
together for a common purpose.
Jonathan asked all policemen to rise to the current
reality and challenges facing the nation.
While admitting that policing was a challenging
task, he said every policeman and woman must
change with the time, adding that that was the
minimum standard expected of them by Nigerians.
The President also warned policemen to always be
mindful of the rights of innocent Nigerians while
carrying out their assignments.
He said, "I also charge the police, while doing their
work to be mindful of the rights of the ordinary
citizens because rights are very sensitive. While
policing us, you must know that the rights of the
citizens of this country must be protected. In that
regard, we expect maximum discipline from officers
and men of the Nigeria Police."
Jonathan said his presence at the ceremony was in
furtherance of his administration's determination to
reposition the nation's security structure for a more
effective policing.
He said, "The police have a daunting task of
enforcing the laws, keeping the peace and protecting
lives and property which are exceedingly vital for
societal well-being and development.
"It is therefore why every nation expects so much
from its police. For the police to be effective,
government must also provide the police what they
require to work, tools must be provided.
"That is one of the reasons we are here to
inaugurate some of the items and we will continue to
do more. We are today going to inaugurate some
helicopters and vehicles for the use of the police.
"I expect that these facilities will enhance police
capability in prevention of crimes. They shall be
instruments of justice and protection of all men and
women. As they use the equipment, one thing I will
urge the police to do is to maintain them. As a
nation, we are not good at maintaining what we
have."
The President also made a case for training and re-
training in the police force.
"We must emphasise the need to train. For you to
remain gallant and functional in whatever you do
and especially in security tactics, training is
paramount. " he added.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed
Abubakar, said with the resuscitation of the Police
Week which was last celebrated in 1976, he was
passing a clear message to criminals that the wind
of change was now blowing through the police.
Abubakar said the new police force would display
"team spirit, loyalty, zeal, courage, civility and
renewed commitment" towards confronting
criminals.
He said, "My sense of pride stems from the fact that
with the blessing of the Almighty God and support of
my lieutenants, it is under my stewardship as the
Inspector-General of Police that the concept of
Nigeria Police Week which was last celebrated in
1976, was reintroduced.
"For over 37 years, a veritable instrument and
opportunity to strengthen the bond between the
police and the public was kept on hold, while the gap
between the police and the community kept
widening.
"Mistrust grew and the public and the police started
reacting based on mutual suspicion. All because, the
opportunity for social interaction, the Police Week
Celebrations provided was allowed to fizzle away."
He recalled with nostalgia the times when police
stations were opened for members of the public to
walk in and interact with their policemen and
officers; when police commanders and smartly
dressed policewomen would proudly interact with
the youth community and security stakeholders in
the society; and when the expertise of the Force
would be showcased in form of demonstrations by
versatile police motorcycle riders among others.
He said with the Monday event, the Force leadership
was giving practical meaning to its firm
determination to restore the lost glory of the Force
and re-enact those practices which bind the citizens
to their police and elicit fond memories of the force.
Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, who
described the ceremony as another first in the
present administration's transformation agenda,
said the event provided another opportunity for the
police to reconnect with the people in tackling
security challenges.
Olubolade urged the police to reciprocate the good
gesture of government in providing the equipment
by working hard to tackle the insecurity in the land.
About 17 policemen were honoured at the ceremony
with two of them receiving post-humus awards.
The recipients were rewarded for various activities,
including counter-insurgency efforts, investigation of
high profile murder cases and commanding
ceremonial parades.

Source: mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/nigeria-passing-through-a-trying-moment-jonathan/

Say somtyn new,pastor story teller

Pls can someone tell this man to STFU and solve the security problem in the north?
Declare state of emergen-whatever, (upgrade our military weapons and artilleries, armoured vehicles,etc...) and put and end to this menace!
No be say make soldiers dey go attack militants with toyota hilux..
The last time wey i check, talk no dey solve anything ma guy.
Damn....

I have always been thinking why Nigeria wil not buy helipcopter to it police in each state to protect the citizens while these state governors wil be flying theis just for their own pleasure. It is also a welcoming development the introduction of the police week for social interaction as this will pull down the barrier to better understanding between the security personnel and the public.