The Inspector General of Nigerian Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, said
the dismantling of roadblocks has reduced corruption in the police by 80
per cent. He did not say how he arrived at the figure, but justified it
by the sacking of ‘thousand of policemen’ for corruption offences.
Abubakar, spoke when he presented the Nigerian Police Force Scorecard in Asaba on Saturday.
In his view, corruption thrives in the country because the people want to cut corners and are desperate.
He
said obeying the law helps to reduce bribery and corruption, adding
that the force was making efforts to transforming the Nigerian Police
for the better.
The inspector general of police called for
partnership with other agencies and the general public, while condemning
those who applaud criminals for committing crime.
“The
essence of roadblocks is for a temporary arrest of crime and as soon as
this is done it is dismantled, this is the situation in other countries
of the world. Removing roadblocks in Nigeria has reduced corruption in
the police by 80 per cent. The police is a member of our society,
therefore, we need the people’s support for the police to succeed in the
task of crime fighting,’’ he said.
The IGP said the police was
partnering with sister agencies to achieve the organisational goal of
providing security for Nigerians.
He said the police had purchased no fewer than 2000 vehicles and some helicopters for crime fighting.
He
also said arrangement was on to procuring at least two helicopters for
each of the six geopolitical zones to help police fight crimes.
Abubakar
said the partnership was yielding result, adding that despite the
challenges of Boko Haram in the North, kidnapping, armed robbery and
other related-crime had reduced.
He commended the officers and men for providing adequate security during elections in Delta, Edo and Anambra.
He also spoke on housing programme for policemen.
He said the police would complete 2,250 housing units for officers and men by the end of December.
“We
believe that the officers and men of the Police Force should have their
own houses. By the end of this year, we will have completed a total of
2,250 housing units in Abuja for the officer and men of the force.’’
Abubakar
said the force had secured a mandate to pull out of the general pension
fund administration as it could now administer and operate its own
pension funds.
The inspector general of police also said the force has secured the sum of five billion naira to operate its own mortgage bank.
“We
also ensure that our officers and men are insured because of the
challenging job they do. When we assumed office, 100,000 were not
promoted to next levels, but as we speak, 75,000 of them have been
promoted.
We are currently working toward promoting the remaining 35,000 to their new ranks,’’ he said.
He urged the officers and men to be obedient, respect the right of the people and the law.
Abubakar
said the challenge of unemployment, poverty and the widening gap
between the rich and the poor were some the factors contributing to the
rising crime wave in the country.
“These factors make it difficult for people to see what the Nigerian Police is doing to check crimes in the country,’’ he said.
PM News
The Transition Monitoring Group has kicked
against President Goodluck Jonathan's nomination of Adamu Mu'azu, former
Bauchi State Governor, as the Chairman of the Nigerian Pension
Commission, PENCOM.
The group accused the president of appointing a candidate who was
still under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, for corruption.
Last week Wednesday, President Jonathan forwarded Mr. Mu'azu's name -
alongside Mfon Akpan as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland
Revenue Service - to the Senate for confirmation.
"The Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, is astonished and peeved by
this move of the President, especially in the light of the fact that the
former Governor is yet to be cleared by the Economics and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, of the corruption charges he is facing for
allegedly defrauding the coffers of Bauchi State to the tune of
N19.8billion when he was Governor of the State," the group said in a
statement on Monday.
"This and other similar acts of Mr. President, particularly his
penchant for surrounding himself with famed corrupt individuals, makes
his government's so-called anti-corruption efforts a laughing stock, for
it is patently obvious from his antecedents that President Jonathan
endorses corruption.
"The EFCC is investigating Mr. Mu'azu for allegedly stealing billions
of naira belonging to Bauchi State during his term as governor between
1999 and 2007.Other names forwarded to the Senate for confirmation as
Commissioners of PENCOM include Chinelo Anohu-Amazu (South East), Reuben
Omotowa (North Central), Mohammed Ka'oje (North West), and Adesojo
Olaoba-Efuntayo (South West).But the group said that appointing Mr.
Mu'azu to head the commission is in line with his practice of shielding
corrupt individuals.
"TMG recalls that in the heat of the corruption charges against the
same Mu'azu Adamu, President Jonathan appointed him in 2011 as Chairman
of the Board of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency
(NIMASA)," said the statement signed by Ibrahim Zikirullahi and Eddy
Ezurike, the group's Chairman and Publicity Secretary respectively.
"It was with the President's nod that Business Mogul, Mike Adenuga
and his wife, Titi Adenuga in late 2010 walked free from the EFCC
charges they were facing for reportedly collecting bribes from Siemens
officials; and it was this same attitude of Presidential Romance with
alleged corrupt individuals that enabled controversial Lawyer, Dele Oye
to walk scot free from EFCC charges of allegedly acting as front for the
defunct Oceanic Bank CEO, Cecilia Ibru; and aiding her to loot tens of
billions of Naira in Bank assets.
"The Nigerian people of course will not forget in a hurry how this
same President granted presidential pardon to a notorious convicted
corrupt former Governor and his kinsman, DSP Alamieyeseigha, and other
criminals, including a paedophile.
"Those who recently looted the Police Pensions Board, including its
former Director are yet to be brought to book. The list is endless; yet
Jonathan's regime talks about fight against corruption. The attitude of
Mr. President in recycling corrupt individuals in public places is
worrisome and does not inspire confidence at all.
"In fact, on issue after issue, he has shown that he will never
combat corruption but will rather aid, abet and shield corrupt
officials.
"The group called on President Jonathan to withdraw, immediately, Mr.
Mu'azu's nomination and take "creative steps" to rebuild confidence and
imbue confidence in the anti-corruption war.
"This is the only pathway to redemption, prosperity and development in this country," the statement added.