Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on the federal government to increase funding to the Nigeria police.
He made the call on Friday in the Rumuepirikom community during the inauguration of the Police Tactical Operations Centre in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Governor Wike said his administration understands such import and had unrelentingly provided necessary logistics to the State police command.
The governor maintained that any government that cannot protect life and property, fight crime, and makes people live happily does not have any business in governance.
He said: “Such support will strengthen the capacity of police officers to do their best in keeping the crime rate at its lowest level in Rivers State.
“Ours is to provide the necessary logistics and allow the police and other sister agencies to carry out their function. When you provide an enabling and conducive environment, obviously officers and men of the security agencies will put in their best.
“I’m sure, when the tactical team, as the CP said, move in here the environment alone will allow them to put in their best.”
Wike, however, corrected the thinking that only the federal government has the duty of fighting insecurity and stressed that the essence of governance is to protect life, and leaving such a role for the federal government alone is slack in the responsibility of any person in government.
“If you’re a governor, you’re a chairman of the local council, if you’re a president and you can’t protect the life and property of citizens then you have no business to talk about governance.
“So, don’t go home and sleep that it is the responsibility of the federal government to fight insecurity, no. Every tier of government has that responsibility to fight crime and make sure people live happily.”
He commended the Inspector General of Police for not changing commissioners of police posted to Rivers State incessantly.
This, he pointed out, has helped to stabilize the security architecture and strategies deployed in fighting crime and criminality.
Governor Wike also acknowledged that a new commissioner of police has been posted to the State and urged him to sustain the crime-fighting tempo.
He stated that the incoming governor, Siminalayi Fubara will not tolerate it if the crime rate increases when it should be fought to a minimum level.
Inaugurating the Police Tactical Operations Centre, Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba said police officers in Rivers State are lucky because of the good working tools and conducive environment provided for them.
IGP, Baba noted that while the Nigeria police is contemplating adopting E-policing strategies, the Rivers State government has taken the lead by proving E-policing enabling equipment and centers that will make tracking, patrolling, raiding, stopping and search operations possible without being on the road.
“I want to pledge that I will support this tactical operation unit with an armored personnel carrier, two gun trucks made of pickup and I will also give arms and ammunition dedicated to this place. That is our contribution at the headquarters level.”
Former Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Effiong Okon said the Police Tactical Operations Centre provided by the Wike’s administration is the first in the country.
Okon listed anti-cultism, Anti-kidnapping, and C4i tactical teams as the three out of the 13 Tactical Teams in Rivers State that will be stationed at the center.
Former Commissioner for Works, George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo, Former Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly explained that the Police Tactical Operations Center has 20 number offices.
(Thisnigeria)
