The Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has vowed that the Ministry of Police Affairs will execute the order of President Bola Tinubu to withdraw policemen from Very Important Personalities.
The Deputy Director of Press of the Ministry, Bolaji O. Kazeem, quoted the Minister as saying this on Monday.
Kazeem said Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the withdrawal of the policemen serving as security aides to VIPs was among the key mandates of the Ministry, which also include developing and implementing a harmonised police reform report, amending the Police Act and developing a community policing strategy.
She stated this during a two-day retreat for the Directorate Cadre of the Ministry, with the theme: “Re: Envisioning the Ministry of Police Affairs for Effective Internal Security: strengthening Administration and Management Functions for Resilience and Efficiency,” in Abuja.
The Minister stated that the mandates are not mere tasks but transformative initiatives that can enhance internal security in Nigeria, noting that the two-day management retreat will inspire a collective commitment to align efforts of the Ministerial mandate to contribute to the realisation of the President’s vision for a renewed, highly effective Nigeria Police Force.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said: “The Ministry of Police Affairs has also not been spared. However, given Mr President’s commitment to reforming the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry is now positioned at the forefront of the Police transformation agenda, and it must rise to the challenge.
“The Ministry must bear this weighty responsibility of ensuring coordination and creating the enabling frameworks to steer the Nigeria Police Force towards improved technical and operational effectiveness.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said management staff must demonstrate unwavering commitment and the will required to yield tangible results, adding that the Police Inspectorate Department, in particular, should evolve its operations to focus on robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning.
She said: “Reports must be factual, practical, evidence-based, and serve as critical tools for enhancing police performance. It must champion the review of the curriculum of the training institutions to ensure they are reflective of the evolving landscape of law enforcement, incorporating contemporary practices and international standards.”
The Minister charged the Police Service and Planning, Research and Statistics Department to ensure administrative optimisation and relevant policies as well as procedures for the police to be up to date, adoption of cutting-edge technology, intelligence-led, technology-driven, inclusive, and community-based police force in Nigeria.
