The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, has reiterated the Nigeria Police Force's commitment to improve the welfare of officers and men.

He made this known on Thursday in Ilorin while addressing officers and men of the Force during his visit to the police command in Kwara.

The police boss, who said that 37,000 officers and men of the Force were promoted this year, directed that lists of all officers and men due for promotion in 2011 be compiled and forwarded to his office.

He also approved the promotion of two inspectors to the rank of Acting Superintendent of Police (ASP), subject to confirmation by the Police Service Commission.

The two Inspectors; Mr David Garuba and Mrs Margret Oshe, had complained to the IG of stagnation for many years.

Arase then reiterated his commitment to rebuilding the Force into a modern police with emphasis on intelligence and community policing.

“I will continue to edify the Nigeria Police and fight for the welfare of officers, men and family members of the Force wherever I am or have the opportunity.

“We are committed to changing the poor and negative public perception of the Nigeria Police.

“If you are rated best outside when you go for peacekeeping missions, you should be seen as the best police man at home.”

He said the police have to be well motivated, better equipped, kitted and better paid in order to enable them to confront trending challenges of the day.

The IGP disclosed that the Force had introduced a mortgage scheme for Inspector cadre and below in order to ensure that every policeman and woman own a house before retirement.

He also announced a micro-finance scheme and skills acquisition training for police officers’ wives and family members, as well as scholarship foundation for children of members of the Force.

He, therefore, urged officers, rank and file of the Force to realign themselves with the new dynamics by embracing community and intelligence led policing in the discharge of their duties.

He advised them to henceforth adopt assembling convincing evidence before detaining suspects and not the other way round.

He also advised them to adopt alternative dispute resolution methods while mediating in land dispute and chieftaincy matters.

The IGP further directed all divisional police commands in the country to organise strategic town hall monthly meetings with stakeholders for effective work, noting that such meetings would assist in curbing crime in the society.

“Community partnership in policing is very essential to achieving a crime-free society.

“What is expected of you is to drag in members of the public to give you reliable information to respond quickly to emergency activities.

“You have to win the heart of the people so as to bring achievement to your work and change the perception about Nigeria police.”

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Kwara, Mr Sam Okaula, had emphasised the need for deployment of more personnel to the state to cope with emerging security challenges.

He said “the command has an establishment of 7, 560 but with a strength of 4, 467, leaving a deficit of 3,093; the shortfall is mostly within the rank and file.”

The commissioner said that the police command in the state was facing the problem of inadequate serviceable patrol vehicles, arms and ammunition and riot control equipment.

Okaula assured that officers and men of the command would not disappoint the IGP in his crusade for zero tolerance for corruption in the force.

“We are also embracing and practicing community policing in order to ensure a crime-free society.”

He then stressed the urgent need for the provision of at least six Armoured Personnel Carriers. (NAN)

•Photo shows IGP Arase.

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