The Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Thursday requested the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) to patronise the Kwara Garment Factory, Ilorin for the production of police uniforms.
The governor made the request during the opening ceremony of a two-day management retreat organised by the NPTF for stakeholders in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The training which was hosted by Kwara State government was coordinated by the office of the permanent secretary, Political, Cabinet and Special Services, Governor’s Office, Ilorin, Mrs Esther Oluyomi.
The workshop has “Building A Secured Nigeria Through Effective NPTF Intervention for the Nigeria Police Force” as its theme.
Represented by the senior special assistant on Security, Alh Muyideen Aliyu, the governor said that Kwara is yet to enjoy much benefits from the NPTF.
He, therefore, called for the intervention of the agency in the rehabilitation of Police Training School, Ilorin, and the upgrading of the training facilities to enhance the capacity of police personnel.
The governor also called for rehabilitation of the Police Command Headquarters in Ilorin and some selected Divisional Police
Offices, construction of accommodation facilities, provision of operational vehicles, and the construction of additional Police Divisions across the three senatorial districts.
AbdulRazaq told the gathering that:” Kwara State Government prioritises security and has provided operational facilities such as vehicles, and logistics to the Nigerian Police Force, Kwara State Command. This underscores our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our citizens.”
“We are aware that the NPTF’s primary source of funding is 0.5% of the total revenue accruing to the federation
account. However, Kwara State has not enjoyed much benefits from the NPTE.
Therefore, I request the intervention of the NPTF to consider the following:
Rehabilitation of police training School,
Ilorin, upgrading the training facilities to enhance the capacity of police personnel; rehabilitation of the Police Command Headquarters and some selected Divisional Police Offices.
“improving the working conditions and operational efficiency of the police, construction of living facilities: providing decent accommodation for police personnel to boost their morale and productivity, provision of operational vehicles: equipping the police with necessary vehicles to enhance their response to security challenges, and construction of additional Police Divisions across the three senatorial districts of Kwara State, and finally, we request the NPTF to patronize Kwara Garment Factory for the production of police uniforms.
” With the support of the NPTE, we believe we can enhance the capacity of the police to respond to emerging security challenges, promote community policing, and improve the overall security architecture in Kwara State.”
The governor restated the commitment of his administration to promoting the welfare of the people of the state people, adding that ” security is a critical component of the present
administration in the State.
” We look forward to partnering
with the NPTF to achieve our security objectives and promote a safer, more prosperous Kwara State for all.
Earlier, the executive secretary of NPTF, Mohammed Sheidu, had said that the agency has trained over 10,700 police personnel since its inception five years ago.
He said that training and retraining of police officers is imperative and key to strengthening the Nigerian Police.
Sheidu also said that 1,300 police officers were trained in his first 100 days in office, adding that, “we expand and plan to increase that number subsequently”.
The Kwara State police commissioner, Victor Olaiya, who applauded the disposition of the fund and its management wondered where the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) would have been without the Fund.
He requested two Amoured Personnel Carriers (APC) from the fund for his command to enhance improved security in the state.
Olaiya praised the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his administration’s support for the police towards the maintenance of peace and order in the state.
The secretary to the state government, Prof. Mamman Jibril, and the permanent secretary, General Services, Alh AbdulGaniyu Shuaib, also graced the event.
