Disturbed by the spate of insecurity in Nigeria, the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has asked the Nigeria Police Force to embrace a new strategy of proactivity and aggression to fight against the enemies of peace in the country.
He assured that the government would invest in modernizing the country’s police to keep pace with emerging trends and technologies, explaining that the capacity of its personnel would be enhanced through the provision of state-of-the-art equipment and advanced training programmes while also fostering partnerships with international organizations and friendly nations to leverage their expertise and experiences for the benefit of the officers.
Gaidam, according to a statement issued at the weekend by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations Unit in the Ministry of Police Affairs, Bolaji Kazeem, spoke when he and the Minister of State, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, led the management of the ministry on an official visit to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
He said the police should no longer wait for the enemy to strike, but instead, take the fight to their very doorstep, advising that “we must seek out their hideouts, disrupt their operations, and dismantle their networks piece by piece.”
“I stand before you today not just as a minister, but as a fellow warrior in the battle against terrorism and banditry that threatens our beloved nation. We are facing a formidable enemy, one that thrives in darkness and preys on fear and uncertainty.
“But I come to you with a message of hope and determination, a message that together, we can overcome these challenges and emerge victorious,” he stressed.
The minister noted that the defensive approach has emboldened the enemies and allowed them to grow stronger, adding that “it is time to change the narrative, to shift the balance of power in our favour.”
“By being proactive, and taking the fight to the hideouts of the terrorists and bandits, we can weaken them, disrupt their plans, and ultimately defeat them,” he reiterated.
Gaidam, however, acknowledged that the task would not be easy and requires courage, sacrifice, and unwavering determination.
The minister assured that their welfare and professional development are of paramount importance to the government and recognized the need to address the various challenges faced daily, including inadequate infrastructure, insufficient equipment, and limited resources.
In her remarks, the Minister of State, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim disclosed the ministry’s plan to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to create an improved welfare, training, and supportive environment for professional growth.
She, therefore, urged the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun to promote gender equality and facilitate the inclusion of female police officers in the top management of the force as well as effective implementation of a safe school environment policy.
In his welcome address, Egbetokun thanked the ministers for the commendation which he said would serve as motivation to the officers and rank and file of the Force to serve the country better.
He assured them of the readiness of the Force Headquarters to work with the ministry and support efforts put in place to enable the police to get better deals such as improving welfare, modern equipment, and reform of the Force.
