As part of effort towards ensuring concrete security arrangements for the 2023 general elections, Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba has approved the training of the first batch of Bell 412EP B1.3 Type Training Course for Police Airwing Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi announced this in a press statement issued Sunday in Abuja.
He said the training for the 17 officers was expected to improve the technical expertise of the Aircraft Maintenance Unit of the Police Airwing and prevent operational mishaps during aerial surveillance operations.
Adejobi said the IGP also approved the training of more pilots on Cessna Citation, the training and maintenance of a fully operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) squad, training of more Engineers on both Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing, as well as training for other auxiliary aviation staff to streamline operational inadequacies, improve human resourcefulness and ensure enhanced operational efficiency and cohesive operations.
Adejobi said: “The trainings, which were run simultaneously, in partnership with foreign experts, came to an end on Friday, September 30, 2022, with presentation of certificates of participation to the trainees by the Inspector-General of Police at the FHQ, Abuja.”
“In the same vein, the IGP has recently met with the leadership of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Squadron Commanders at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, where he appraised the internal security situation of the country and unraveled the possible ways of positioning the Nigeria Police Force for effective service delivery through strategic restructuring.
“The IGP noted that the PMF, under his leadership and command would be adequately restructured, equipped, with effective trainings, to align with its age-long tradition of basic unit concept and unit deployment.
“The IGP reiterated the importance of proper election security management for the upcoming 2023 General Elections. He further challenged the Squadron Commanders to provide adequate security in their respective Areas of Responsibility, to support the conventional police not only during the general elections, but in ensuring and reassuring members of the public of their safety before, during, and after the elections.
“The IGP further asserted that the present leadership of the Nigeria Police Force will continually embark on training and retraining of its officers to reposition the Police and invariably improve the general security of Nigeria even as the NPF attains its primacy in maintenance of law and order,” the statement further said.
Tinubu on death rumour
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dismissed his speculated death on some social media platforms, saying he is strong and healthy.
Tinubu, who spoke from London, has been out of the country for some days, fuelling speculation of ill-health or death.
The APC presidential candidate was recently absent at the signing of Peace Accord by all the presidential candidates and their political parties.
The former Lagos state governor was, however, seen in a short video Sunday night riding a bike at the gym.
The said video posted on his verified Twitter handle is captioned: “Many have said I have died; others claim I have withdrawn from the presidential campaign. Well… Nope.
“This is the reality: I am strong, I am healthy and I am READY to serve Nigerians from Day One.”
Earlier, the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, had said Tinubu was healthy.
Reacting to social media photos suggesting that Tinubu was indisposed in the British capital, Onanuga wrote on his Facebook wall: “Look at the frame of his glasses. It is certainly not Tinubu’s trademark frame.
“Let me assure Nigerians who genuinely want to know Tinubu’s whereabouts. He is in London, in his house.
“Tinubu left Nigeria on Saturday night for a short break and in readiness for what will certainly be a gruelling campaign.
“I saw him and spoke with him two hours before he left. He was hale and hearty. He was not ill. He didn’t go to treat any ailment.
“We spoke today at about 2 pm. And he told me how his one-week retreat has not made any difference. He was still working like in Nigeria.”
…Appoints Masari, Buni, Wamako
Also, Asiwaju Tinubu has appointed Kastina state Governor Aminu Bello Masari as Senior Adviser on Administration and Government, while former Governor of Sokoto state, Senator Aliyu Wamakko is also named Senior Adviser Special Duties for the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).
The two letters of appointment dated August 8, 2022, personally signed by Tinubu, were made available to newsmen Sunday in Abuja.
The APC standard bearer said both Masari and Wamakko’s impressive political achievement and the exemplary leadership demonstrated as governor and Senator respectively in their states and as party members qualified them for the responsibility.
The letter to governor Masari read: “By way of this letter we are pleased to formally convey your appointment as the Special Adviser on Administration & Government of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
“This appointment is fitting and appropriate given your impressive political achievement and the exemplary leadership you have demonstrated as governor of your state and as a party member.
“We are grateful that you have joined our campaign team. We know you will do your utmost in this new responsibility so we conduct an effective message-driven campaign leading us to victory in the 2023 presidential election.
“Together, not only can we ensure victory for our party in the February 2023 election but we shall also move Nigeria along the path of national greatness by building on the achievements of our party and the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in providing progressive good governance to Nigerians.”
On Wamakko, Tinubu said: “This appointment is fitting and appropriate given your impressive political achievement and exemplary leadership you have demonstrated as governor of your state and as a party member.
“We are grateful that you have joined our campaign team. We know you will do your utmost in this new responsibility so we conduct an effective, message-driven campaign leading us to victory in the 2023 presidential election.”
In a similar appointment, the party’s presidential candidate said the choice of Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni as adviser on party integration and reconciliation was out of his commitment to the APC.
The letter dated August 8, 2022, and personally signed by Tinubu, said Buni’s impressive political achievement and the exemplary leadership he as demonstrated as governor of Yobe state and as a party member qualified him for the responsibility.
The letter read: “By way of this letter, we are pleased to formally convey your appointment as the Adviser on Party Integration & Reconciliation of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
“This appointment is fitting and appropriate given your impressive political achievement and the exemplary leadership you have demonstrated as governor of your state and as a party member.
“We are grateful that you have joined our campaign team. We know you will do your utmost in this new responsibility so we conduct an effective, message-driven campaign leading us to victory in the 2023 presidential election.
“Together, not only can we ensure victory for our party in the February 2023 election but we shall also move Nigeria along the path of national greatness by building on the achievements of our party and the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in providing progressive good governance to Nigerians.”
