President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday commissioned the newly-acquired seven police helicopters, 17 Armoured Personnel Carriers and hundreds of patrol vehicles in furtherance of his administration’s resolve to combat crime and insecurity.
Speaking at the Eagles Square, Abuja, venue of the grand finale of the 2013 Nigeria Police Week on the theme: “Connecting with the people for a more effective policing”, the President re-echoed his commitment to ensuring that each of the state police command has a helicopter to combat crime.
“A situation where hoodlums take over a state is not acceptable,” he said, while charging police authorities to make effective use of the new helicopters, APCs and patrol vehicles.
Jonathan decried the lack of maintenance culture that seems to cut across all facets of the country’s national life, urging the Police to emulate the Military in this regard.
The President also called on Nigerians to support the police, while charging officers and men to rise up to the security challenges facing the country.
He said: ”I also urge the police that while doing their work, they should be mindful of the right of other people.”
In his welcome address, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said the resuscitation of the Police Week, which was last celebrated in 1976, signified that police was returning to the basics which aimed at restoring public confidence.
According to Abubakar, it also provided ample opportunity for police authorities to re-appraise its activities in the last one year, especially as it relates to security challenges and crime fighting.
He said: “The Police is returning to the basics and the traditional values and practices of the Force are being restored.
“Today, the Force leadership is giving practical meaning to its firm determination to restore the lost glory of the Force and re-enact those practices, which bind the citizens to their police and elicit fond memories of the Force.
