No doubt, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris may be one of the happiest persons in Nigeria at the moment, following his confirmation as substantive Inspector General of Police (IGP) by the Council of State on Wednesday, September 7, 2016.

This is second Council of State meeting under President Muhammadu Buhari, after the first meeting was held on October 21, 2015. It will be recalled that Idris’ confirmation as IGP came barely four months after President Buhari elevated him from an Assistant Inspector-General of Police to the Acting IGP, following the retirement of his predecessor, IGP Solomon Arase, who retired from service on Monday, June 20, 2016.

As a refined police officer, IGP Idris has commenced serious reform to ensure high standard of behaviour in the official conduct of Nigeria Police, with a view to eliminating impunity, and ensuring transparency in the police force. IGP Idris has instituted a responsive police. That means it will be against work ethics henceforth for a senior police officer at any command level to treat complaints with levity. That is, any complaint received from members of the public must be treated within shortest possible time to the satisfaction of the complainant. This is a welcome development from the IGP (if adhered to), as effective communication promotes unity and stalls crisis.

IGP Idris has also laid a foundation to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of Police Cooperatives and Police Insurance schemes, especially for the rank-and-file that constitutes the largest contributors. He is operating an open door policy, by ensuring that contributors have more say in the running of these accounts and on how their investments will be utilised on daily basis.

In his effort to give a boost to the current administration’s ‘war on corruption’, the IGP has strengthened the Police X-Squad Units in all police commands, with the deployment of thoroughly vetted, selfless and patriotic officers to tackle corruption and abuse of office within the Nigeria Police at the federal, state and local government levels. The personnel deployed to the Anti-Corruption Units are supported with incentives to make them more effective in the discharge of their duties. We all know the conditions of most police barracks in Nigeria today. In line with is mandate to promote the welfare of the police, Idris is leaving no stone unturned on the issue of provision of cheap and affordable accommodation for individual police rank-and-file. Since his assumption of office, the IGP has ensured prompt and timely payment of salaries of serving personnel. As part of his promise, a total of 117 cheques, amounting to N192 million was presented to the families of late police officers. IGP Idris has vowed to ensure that the police are not at a disadvantaged position, compared to other security agencies, in terms of salaries and other entitlements.

Another promise he made on taking over from the former IGP was the establishment of forensic laboratories in the six geopolitical zones. Recently, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo laid the foundation of the Police Forensic Laboratory in the FCT, Abuja. The forensic laboratories will boost the capacity of the police to effectively and efficiently investigate and prosecute crime within the organisation.

Coordination with other security agencies is very critical at this period of security challenges in the country. IGP Idris has ensured that every police command headquarters establish Joint Operation Centre, for effective coordination and synergy with other security agencies, in order to adequately respond to major crisis within 24 hours. Nigerians know that violent criminality is gradually taking over our streets, neighbourhoods, and communities. In order to address these ugly challenges, the Special Anti-Robbery Squads in state commands is undergoing restructuring and reorganisation, so as to be made more robust to reverse these ugly trends in our communities. The personnel deployed to these squads are well-trained and motivated accordingly to perform their duties.

IGP Idris, as a gender-friendly police officer, has ensured the posting of female officers in command positions in states, and it is boosting the morale of female police officers. Considering the above agenda of the IGP, I am calling on every Nigerian to support and co-operate with the police under the leadership of Ibrahim Idris to make Nigeria safer and more united. The security of our communities is the responsibility of all of us. We must support the Nigeria Police Force with maximum co-operation to ensure that this country shall continue to be more united and prosperous.

May almighty Allah continue to guide the Inspector-General of Police – Amen!

•Kehinde, an Abuja-based journalist and public affairs specialist, can be reached via kennyadewole@gmail.com. Photo shows IGP Ibrahim Idris.

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