Ag. IGP: Police’s lost glory worries govt, Nigerians

The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, has vowed to restore the dwindling primacy of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) within the internal security architecture of the country.

He also assured that his leadership will restore the fading glory of the force, which according to him, has become a source of concerns to both government and the citizens.     

Giving his inaugural address yesterday at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, the new Police boss said: “My appointment represents a call to duty and a charge to restore the dwindling primacy of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) within the internal security architecture of our beloved country.

“Commanding the largest Police Force in Africa, particularly, at this crucial time that the country is faced with multi-faceted security challenges and at the peak of preparations for the general elections, is undoubtedly an arduous task.

“However, it remains a fact that the Force is blessed with some of the finest officers anywhere in the world that are not only intellectually gifted and exceptionally dedicated, but professionally sound enough to surmount these tasks if the right leadership is provided.”

Speaking further, the police boss said: “All that you desire, from my experience, is a  transparent, responsive, motivational, accountable, and knowledgeable leader, who will not only treat you with the dignity you deserve in your line of duty, but who is sensitive to your welfare needs and fair in the manner your promotion and other reward regimes are addressed. The absence of this level of leadership has always been the missing link in policing in Nigeria.

“It is my firm conviction therefore, that if the quality personnel potential of the Force are blended with purposeful and motivational leadership at strategic levels within the organisational hierarchy by the Force, the lost glory of the NPF, which remains a concern to governments at all levels, citizens, human rights groups, the international community and indeed well-meaning officers and men of the Force shall be restored.

“With my appointment and assumption of duty, I am determined to draw on my national and international policing leadership experience, to bridge this missing link. I assure you on this day that I will provide the highest possible level of professional and responsible leadership for you while trusting that you shall march hand-in-hand with me as dependable professional colleagues, to advance the fortunes of the Force.”

The new Police helmsman tasked officers and men of the Force to, “abstain from conducts that will drag the Police into disrepute and put your career in jeopardy, and join me in the common course of changing the narratives of policing in the country for good.

“In giving effect to this, in the coming days, I shall unfold before you and the nation the strategic focus of my leadership.”

He further reminded the personnel that “aside our routine operations, we have within the short term, two major national assignments where our professionalism and commitment to duty will once again be subjected to national and international scrutiny.

“These national engagements are of immediate priority to my leadership, hence, in the next few days, the nation shall witness converted police deployments and other activities which will all be directed at ensuring quality election security service delivery by the police, being the lead agency in election security management.”

Out gone IGP speaks

Earlier, the outgoing IGP, Ibrahim Idris, thanked officers and men of the Force for their support and  all they did to make the Force great under his watch.

While urging similar support for his successor, Idris, who noted that he was handing over to a friend and brother, wished him all the best in piloting the affairs of the Force.

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