When on September 7, 2016, the Council of State confirmed Mr Ibrahim Idris as the substantive Inspector-General of Police (IGP), I had no doubt that change has really come to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). As a polished police officer, Idris brought his wealth of experience from the United Nations where he had served diligently for eight years.

He is the first Inspector General of Police in Nigeria’s history to publicly declare his assets. He recently received commendation from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for complying with the Asset Declaration regulations.

When a group, under the auspices of Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), led by Prince Godluck Obi and Okechukwu Nwanguma, paid a courtesy visit to the IGP on December 9, 2016 to mark the United Nations Anti-Corruption Day, he said: “In United Nations, you declare your assets on yearly basis, so throughout my eight years in United Nations, I declared my assets. So, I did not hesitate to declare mine when I was appointed and confirmed as substantive Inspector General of Police.”

The IGP Ibrahim Idris I know is ready to declare his assets yearly, if he is permitted by law, because I can see that trust and transparency in him. In other to ensure that the image of Nigeria Police is changed for the better, Idris has embarked on the launch of ‘Change begins with me’ in all the police commands across the country. Since he became the Inspector-General of Police, he has made training of all police personnel his priority. The Nigeria Police personnel have received training on human rights and police-citizens relations, and several other trainings. I am aware that training on anti-corruption is in the pipeline for all police personnel in the 12 zones of the Police Command.

The Inspector-General of Police has strengthened the X-Squad to be the Anti-Corruption arm of the Nigeria Police, with the Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit under the leadership of ASP Abayomi Shogunle. The Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit is a place where you make resolving your complaints easier. All you need to do is provide full details of occurrence, including: When, What, Where, Who, Whom and How in your message.

The IGP is set to launch 85 vehicles to make the work of the Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit easy. The vehicles will be officially launched by President Muhammadu Buhari soon. Also, Idris is collaborating with the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to ensure that the anti-corruption war is fought to a logical conclusion. As we are aware, most of the corruption cases in the Nigeria Police are blamed on delayed salaries. But since his assumption of office as IGP, Idris has ensured prompt and timely payment of salaries of serving personnel. As part of his promise, 117 cheques, amounting to N192,000,000.00 was presented to the families of late police officers. 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. Co-ordination with other security agencies is very critical at this period of security challenges in the country. Idris has ensured that every Police Command headquarters establish a Joint Operation Centre for effective co-ordination and synergy with other security agencies, to adequately respond to major crises 24 hours every day.

Nigerians know that violent criminality is gradually taking over our streets, neighborhoods and communities. In order to address these ugly challenges, the Special Anti-Robbery Squads (SARS) in the state commands has undergone restructuring and reorganization, which has made the SARS 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.

The IGP, as a gender-friendly police officer, has ensured the posting of female officers in command positions in states. This, too, is boosting the morale of female police officers. A refined female police officer will be heading the Information Department of the Force soon.

Idris is the only IGP that operates open door policy. I have not seen any Inspector General of Police that has received different groups across the country on courtesy visits, like Idris.

Given the foregoing achievements of the IGP within the shortest time and limited resources, I am calling on every Nigerian to support and co-operate with the police and the IGP 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 Nigeria continues to be more united and prosperous.

May almighty Allah continue to guide IGP Idris: Amen!

•Kehinde is an Abuja-based Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst.

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