*Charges police officers to maintain zero tolerance for corruption
By Usman D. Aliyu
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on new officers of the Nigeria Police not to let Nigerians down in the discharge of their duties of national service and policing the nation noting that everyone looks up to them for security.
President Buhari made the call during the Passing Out Parade of 418 Regular Course Cadets at the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano.
The President represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi also said efforts are on top gear to upgrade the status of the Nigeria Police Academy into a University, charged the officers to maintain zero tolerance for corruption during discharge of their duties.
He said the bill is currently receiving legislative attention at the National Assembly noting that if passed will give full legal backing to the existence and academic programmes of the academy and legitimize its status as a university.
According to him, “the Federal Government and the citizens of this nation demand of you the assurances that in this task of national service, you shall not let yourselves, families, the Nigeria Police Force and the nation down.
“You should be guided by the fact that your conduct on the field shall be constantly scrutinized and you shall be held personally accountable for your actions as you transit from being cadets’ trainees to becoming proud officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
“You should remain good ambassadors of the Nigeria Police and demonstrate respect to civil society in discharging your duties, while also maintaining zero tolerance for corruption.
“As young officer, the task of advancing major police responsibilities will in due course fall on your shoulders,” the President said.
He continued when he said, “I have no doubt that you have been appropriately and adequately prepared to go into the field, serve your nation with courage and compassion and aid the process of restoring stability in our internal security order.
“Today’s event is a further testimony to our commitment towards bridging the crucial manpower gap which has been inhibiting optimal performance of the Federal Government’s policy of evolving new young officers who will stimulate change in policing Nigeria and a t as the face of the new police that we envision and desire in this country.
“We are sustaining the implementation of our administration’s policy of recruiting 10,000 junior Police personnel annually as part of efforts to address the manpower shortage in the force, while also investing in the upgrade of facilities at the Nigeria Police Academy and other Police Training Institutions in the country.
“Aside this, we have demonstrated firm commitment towards changing the principle and strategy of policing in Nigeria. This is with a view to bequeathing to the nation a citizens’-led policing system. This informed the approval for the adoption of community the policing as the internal security strategy of the country, as well as the approval of funds to support the implementation process,” President Buhari stated.
Earlier, the Commandant, Nigeria Police Academy, CP Lawan Tanko Jimeta charged the new officers not to allow negative tendencies dampen their spirits instead use them as stepping Stones to success.
“Today’s occasion is another milestone in our resolve to produce a crop of highly competent and disciplined police officers capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century policing.
“The diverse, complex and global security challenges have compelled the Nigeria Police Academy to reposition itself in tandem with current policing reality according to international best practices. This paradigm shift informs the inculcation of core policing courses, cyber security, forensics, community policing and other related courses in the cadet curriculum,” CP Jimeta however stated.