By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
As part of measures towards tackling violent crimes, especially terrorism; strengthening the criminal justice system and improving the capacity of officers in the area of technologies, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US Department of States Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.
The MoU was signed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force and the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle, on behalf of the US Government.
In his remarks, the Ambassador said the Nigeria Police would benefit from the International Police Education and Training Programme run by the US authorities with funding from the US Department.
He also said the training pact would help to improve and modernise police training in Nigeria and bring about a well trained Nigeria Police dedicated to the highest standards of ethical conduct, proficiency in law enforcement.
In a related development, the IGP, yesterday, received officials of the Department for International Development (DFID) at the Force Headquarters, for a formal presentation of strategic guidelines on counter-terrorism and eight other core areas of policing to the Nigeria Police Force.
The areas include: counter-terrorism, integrated intelligence, community-policing, fleet management, human resource management, diversity, use of force, PR and media.
Speaking at the occasion, the IGP said the opportunity provided by the international Police education and training programme must be harnessed to increase the capabilities of the Nigeria Police, “particularly now that the country is battling the menace of terrorism and equally preparing for general elections in 2015.”
He restated his commitment to continue to drive reforms and strategic transformation of the Force in order to reposition the Force for better service delivery and enjoined all Police officers to key into the ongoing positive wind of change.
