Minister of State, Police Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim hosted the maiden edition of the Citizens Townhall Engagement on Strengthening Policing in Nigeria, yesterday, 11th December 2023 in Lagos with the theme; “Community Policing: Building A Safer Nigeria Together”.
The high-powered meeting which is a major thrust of the Renewed Hope Policing Agenda had in attendance the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu; the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Akintunde Yunus Abiodun; the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun; AIG in charge of Zone 2 (Lagos and Ogun), AIG Ari Muhammed Ali; acting Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, DCP Waheed Ayilara and the Board Member of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan.
Blacktalker reported that other eminent personalities at the event include the Executive Secretary/CEO of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun; Lagos House of Assembly Majority Leader, Hon. Nojeem Adams; General Manager of Lagos Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA), Dr. Ifalade Oyekan; General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Bakare Oki; representative of the Country Director of UNODC, Jane Kimani; PCRC Chairman in Lagos state, Apostle Kehinde Showemimo; among others.
Emphasizing the importance of community engagement in policing a complex society such as Nigeria, the Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu noted that ‘the concept of community policing is not new to the state. ”But what is prevalent in one region might not be in another so while we think global, we must also think local”, he said.
”This is why Townhall engagement like this across the federation is vitally important”.
He hailed the Honorable Minister (State) Police Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim for recognizing Lagos and bringing the first engagement to the nation’s commercial nerve centre.
In her speech, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim reeled out past efforts of previous governments aimed at restructuring the policing system and achieving an effective Nigeria Police Force. She noted that there are plans to harmonise these efforts.
Blacktalker reported that some of the policing challenges as shown by data, Hon. Sulaiman-Ibrahim mentioned ‘1652 armed robbery cases; 4450 kidnapping cases; 4731 murder cases; 525 communal clashes among others.’
According to her, the aim is to reduce the crime rate, increase trust and confidence in police from the public, enhance operational efficiency and enhance the welfare of police officers. ”We cannot spend our people, so we have to look for money to spend, the President told us at the ministerial retreat”, she recalled.
In his welcome address, Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun pointed out that the citizens’ townhall engagement provides a unique opportunity for the police force to feel the pulse of the society. “I wish to encourage policing as a joint effort of the police and community”.
IGP Egbetokun then mentioned some strides of the Police under his leadership. “This includes ‘Establishment of SIS to address violent crimes to pilot in 10 states including Lagos”, he said. ”It is the strike force of the police; Reorganization of the force criminal investigation department; Repositioning of the intelligence arm of the force – good information, good case”.
He added that the department has been granted autonomy with directorate status plus a purpose-built facility is ongoing; Special action units such as MOPOL, are being reinforced; as well as the increased yearly enlistment from 10,000 to 30,000 as instructed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.